llevar ropa
/ʝebaɾ ɾopa/from spelling rules
The phrase 'wearing clothes' in Spanish is translated as llevar ropa.
llevar ropa is used to describe the act of having garments on one's body. In Spanish, the verb llevar is versatile. It is used both for 'to wear' (referring to clothing or accessories) and for 'to carry' (referring to an object).
Which one should you use?
While llevar ropa refers to wearing clothes, the phrase llevar puesto is often used when you want to emphasize the current state of having something on one's body.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is conjugated according to the subject of the sentence. For example, while the infinitive is llevar ropa, you would use lleva ropa to say 'he/she/it wears clothes'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝebaɾ ɾopa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes use the verb usar (to use) to mean 'wearing', but llevar is the more natural choice when describing what someone is currently wearing.
Did you know?
- The verb llevar comes from the Latin levāre, which means 'to lift' or 'to raise'.
- While ropa means clothes, its close relative in Italian, roba, has shifted meaning to mean 'stuff' or 'things' in general.
- The verb llevar is used for everything from a wristwatch to a fragrance, meaning you 'carry' a scent on your skin.
Examples in context
- Él suele llevar ropa formal en el trabajo.He usually wears formal clothes at work.
- No es necesario llevar ropa de invierno aquí.It is not necessary to wear winter clothes here.
- Ella prefiere llevar ropa cómoda para viajar.She prefers wearing comfortable clothes for traveling.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing what to wear to a party.
- Mateo¿Qué debo llevar para la fiesta?What should I wear for the party?
- SofíaPuedes llevar ropa casual, Mateo.You can wear casual clothes, Mateo.
- Mateo¿Y tú vas a llevar ropa elegante?And are you going to wear elegant clothes?
- SofíaSí, yo voy a llevar ropa muy bonita.Yes, I am going to wear very pretty clothes.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llevar, ropa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
