llevan
“llevan” means “they carry” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
they carry, you all carry
Also: they bring, they take
📝 In Action
Ellos llevan las maletas pesadas al coche.
A1They carry the heavy suitcases to the car.
Ustedes siempre llevan sus propios vasos.
A2You all always carry your own cups.
Los mensajeros llevan paquetes por toda la ciudad.
A1The messengers carry packages all over the city.
they wear, you all wear
Also: they sport
📝 In Action
En la escuela, todos los niños llevan uniforme azul.
A1At school, all the children wear blue uniforms.
¿Qué colores llevan ellos hoy?
A1What colors are they wearing today?
Mis vecinos llevan gafas de sol en interiores.
A2My neighbors wear sunglasses indoors.
they have been
Also: it has been
📝 In Action
Llevan veinte minutos esperándonos.
A2They have been waiting for us for twenty minutes.
Los negocios llevan años perdiendo dinero.
B1The businesses have been losing money for years.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevan en ese trabajo?
A2How long have you all been at that job?
they manage, they handle
Also: they lead, they conduct
📝 In Action
Los ejecutivos llevan el proyecto con mucha calma.
B1The executives manage the project very calmly.
Dicen que llevan una relación a distancia.
B2They say they are handling a long-distance relationship.
Estos temas se llevan en una reunión aparte.
B1These topics are handled in a separate meeting.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "llevan" in Spanish:
they bring→they carry→they conduct→they handle→they lead→they manage→they sport→they take→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llevan
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation fits the sentence: 'Llevan tres años sin hablarse'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The Spanish verb 'llevar' comes from the Latin word 'levare,' which originally meant 'to lighten, to raise, or to lift.' Over time, the meaning evolved to 'take something that has been lifted' (i.e., to carry) and then expanded into its many modern uses.
First recorded: Around the 10th century in early Spanish texts.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'llevan' different from 'traen' (they bring)?
'Llevan' usually means moving something *away* from the speaker or taking it *along* to a destination (like 'take' or 'carry'). 'Traen' means moving something *toward* the speaker or to a place where the speaker is (like 'bring').
Can I use 'llevan' to talk about food ingredients?
Yes! When talking about recipes, 'lleva' (the singular form) is very common and means 'it contains' or 'it requires.' For example: 'La sopa lleva muchas verduras' (The soup has/contains many vegetables).