A group of happy children raising their hands high in a classroom setting.

levanten

leh-BAHN-tehn

verbA2regular ar

raise?as in 'raise your hands' or 'raise your voices',lift?as in 'lift the boxes'

Also:stand up?when used with 'se' (the action of getting out of a chair/bed),build?to erect or set up a structure

Quick Reference

gerundlevantando

past Participlelevantado

infinitivelevantar

📝 In Action

Por favor, levanten la mano si tienen una pregunta.

Please, raise your hand if you have a question.

Quiero que levanten sus juguetes antes de salir.

I want you all to pick up your toys before going out.

Espero que ellos levanten el muro pronto.

I hope they build the wall soon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

alcen (to lift/raise)
recojan (to pick up)

Antonyms

bajen (to lower)
suelten (to let go)

Common Collocations

levanten la voz – to speak up / raise your voices
que se levanten – let them stand up

Idioms & Expressions

levanten el ánimo – to cheer up

💡 Grammar Points

Two Roles for 'Levanten'

This word works as a direct command for a group ('Levanten las manos!') and also in sentences where you express a wish ('Espero que levanten las cajas').

Addressing Groups

Use 'levanten' when talking to two or more people. In Latin America, this is used for any group; in Spain, it's the polite/formal way to address a group.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Levantan vs. Levanten

Mistake: "Using 'levantan' for a command."

Correction: Say '¡Levanten!' for a command. 'Levantan' (with an 'a') is just a statement of fact, like 'they are lifting right now.'

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'E' Switch

For verbs ending in -AR, the command and wish forms usually switch to an 'E' ending. That's why 'levantar' becomes 'levanten'.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedeslevantaran

yolevantara

túlevantaras

vosotroslevantarais

nosotroslevantáramos

él/ella/ustedlevantara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedeslevanten

yolevante

túlevantes

vosotroslevantéis

nosotroslevantemos

él/ella/ustedlevante

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedeslevantaron

yolevanté

túlevantaste

vosotroslevantasteis

nosotroslevantamos

él/ella/ustedlevantó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedeslevantaban

yolevantaba

túlevantabas

vosotroslevantabais

nosotroslevantábamos

él/ella/ustedlevantaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedeslevantan

yolevanto

túlevantas

vosotroslevantáis

nosotroslevantamos

él/ella/ustedlevanta

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: levanten

Question 1 of 1

If you want a group of students to raise their hands, you should say:

📚 More Resources

Word Family

levantar(to lift) - verb

levantamiento(uprising/lifting) - noun

levantado(risen/raised) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'levanten' always mean a command?

Not always! While it is often a command (¡Levanten!), it is also used after phrases like 'Quiero que...' (I want that...) or 'Espero que...' (I hope that...) to show a wish or request.

How is it different from 'levantan'?

'Levantan' is a simple statement of fact (They are lifting). 'Levanten' is used for commands, requests, or hypothetical situations.