Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| llevar (puesto) | /ʝeˈbaɾ ˈpwesto/ (word by word) |
| vestir | /besˈtiɾ/ |
| vestir de | /bestiɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
| vestirse de | /bestiɾse de/ (from spelling rules) |
| usar | /uˈsaɾ/ |
| portar | /poɾˈtaɾ/ |
The choice of word for 'wear' depends on whether you are describing the current state of having an item on your body, the style of dress or the act of using an accessory.
Which one should you use?
llevar (puesto) is the most common way to describe the state of having clothes or accessories on your body right now. In many Latin American dialects, usar is a very common way to say 'to wear', especially for accessories like glasses, hats or jewelry. In contrast, vestir often refers to the general style of dress or the act of dressing someone. Portar is a more formal term used to express the act of wearing something, often in legal or official contexts, such as wearing a uniform or carrying a weapon.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
llevar (puesto) and usar are common, everyday terms. Vestir is more formal and focuses on how someone is dressed. Portar is a formal or literary term used in official or legal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
usar is a very common way to say 'to wear' in many Latin American dialects, particularly when referring to accessories.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive form vestirse de is used to describe being dressed in a specific color or style, such as vestirse de blanco (to be dressed in white).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝeˈbaɾ ˈpwesto/
Did you know?
- Spanish speakers use llevar to describe 'wearing' a certain amount of time, such as saying llevo tres años aquí to mean 'I have been here for three years'.
- In Spanish, you can llevar a characteristic or a feeling, such as llevar una sonrisa for 'wearing a smile'.
- The word llevar comes from the Latin levāre, which is the same root used in the English word 'levitate'.
Examples in context
- Tom no suele usar gorro.Tom doesn't often wear a hat.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of usar regarding hats.Tatoeba #7917856 by fpp, translation #1974832 by CK
- No voy a usar ese vestido.I won't wear that dress.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of usar regarding dresses.Tatoeba #2338138 by hayastan, translation #2276488 by CK
- ¿Qué tipo de ropa te gusta usar?What kind of clothes do you like to wear?This sentence is useful for practicing the use of usar when asking about clothing preferences.Tatoeba #9496062 by hayastan, translation #9484081 by CK
- Llevo un vestido elegante.I am wearing an elegant dress.
- La reina porta una corona de oro.The queen wears a gold crown.
- Me puse una camiseta nueva hoy.I wore a new T-shirt today.
- Llevo unos pantalones cómodos hoy.I am wearing comfortable pants.
- ¿Qué vas a ponerte para la fiesta?What are you going to wear to the party?
- Se puso un sombrero rojo y unas gafas de sol.He put on a red hat and sunglasses.
- Alicia lleva un abrigo de lana en invierno.Alicia wears a wool coat in winter.
- Me eché una bufanda antes de salir de casa.I put on a scarf before leaving home.
- ¿Cuál de estas chaquetas te vas a poner encima?Which one of these jackets are you going to put on top?
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wear” translations and entries vestir, usar, portar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (llevar, puesto) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, llevar, vestir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
