lleva
/yeh-vah/
he/she carries
He/She carries (or takes) an object.
lleva(Verb)
he/she carries
?moving an object
,he/she takes
?transporting something from here to there
you (formal) carry/take
?addressing someone as 'usted'
📝 In Action
Mi padre siempre lleva un maletín al trabajo.
A1My father always carries a briefcase to work.
Ella lleva los platos sucios a la cocina.
A1She takes the dirty plates to the kitchen.
Lleva este paraguas, parece que va a llover.
A2Take this umbrella, it looks like it's going to rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Commands
You can also use 'lleva' to tell a friend (the 'tú' form) to take or carry something. For example, 'Lleva esto a tu hermano' (Take this to your brother). It's the same word, just used as a command.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'llevar' vs. 'traer'
Mistake: "Voy a llevar la comida a mi casa. (I'm going to take the food to my house.)"
Correction: Voy a traer la comida a mi casa. (I'm going to bring the food to my house.) 'Llevar' is 'to take' something away from where you are. 'Traer' is 'to bring' something to where you are.
⭐ Usage Tips
Take vs. Bring
A simple trick: 'Llevar' is about movement away from the speaker ('take there'). 'Traer' is about movement towards the speaker ('bring here').
He/She wears clothing or accessories.
lleva(Verb)
he/she wears
?clothing, accessories, hairstyle
you (formal) wear
?addressing someone as 'usted'
📝 In Action
Mi hermana lleva un vestido verde hoy.
A1My sister is wearing a green dress today.
Él lleva gafas para leer.
A1He wears glasses to read.
Ella lleva el pelo corto.
A2She wears her hair short.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Common than 'Usar'
While you can sometimes use 'usar' for clothes, 'llevar' is often the more natural and common choice, especially in Spain. Think of it as the default verb for 'to wear'.
He/She has been doing something (for a duration of time).
📝 In Action
Ella lleva dos horas estudiando para el examen.
B1She has been studying for the exam for two hours.
Mi tío lleva diez años trabajando en la misma empresa.
B1My uncle has been working at the same company for ten years.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'have been doing' Formula
This is a special pattern: 'llevar' + (a period of time) + (a verb ending in -ando/-iendo). It's the most common way to say how long an action has been going on.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Natural Alternative
Instead of a more complex tense, Spanish speakers often prefer this 'llevar' structure. Saying 'Lleva viviendo aquí un año' sounds more natural than other ways of expressing the same idea.
It contains ingredients (used especially for food).
📝 In Action
¿La sopa lleva sal?
A2Does the soup have salt?
Este cóctel lleva vodka y jugo de naranja.
B1This cocktail contains vodka and orange juice.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Food
This is your go-to verb when asking about what's in a dish at a restaurant. '¿Qué lleva la ensalada?' (What does the salad have in it?) is a very useful phrase.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lleva
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'lleva' to mean 'wears'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'llevar' and 'traer'?
Think about your location. Use 'llevar' (to take) for movement away from you. For example, 'Llevo el libro a la biblioteca' (I'm taking the book to the library). Use 'traer' (to bring) for movement towards you. For example, '¿Me traes un vaso de agua?' (Can you bring me a glass of water?).
I've seen 'se lleva'. How is that different from 'lleva'?
'Lleva' by itself has many meanings like 'to carry' or 'to wear'. When you add 'se' to make 'se lleva', it often changes the meaning. A common one is 'llevarse bien/mal con alguien', which means 'to get along well/poorly with someone'. Another meaning for 'se lleva' is 'to be in fashion', like 'Este año se llevan los colores vivos' (Bright colors are in fashion this year).