llevar
/yeh-VAR/
to carry
To use llevar means to carry or to take something from one location to another.
llevar(Verb)
to carry
?transporting an object by hand
to take
?moving something from your current location to another
📝 In Action
Siempre llevo un paraguas en mi mochila.
A1I always carry an umbrella in my backpack.
¿Puedes llevar estos platos a la cocina, por favor?
A1Can you take these plates to the kitchen, please?
El cartero lleva un paquete para ti.
A2The mailman is carrying a package for you.
💡 Grammar Points
Llevar vs. Traer: The Classic Mix-up
Llevar means to take something away from where you are, like taking a gift to a party. Traer means to bring something to where you are, like bringing a dish to your own home for dinner. Think: 'llevar leaves, traer comes here'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Llevar' for 'To Bring'
Mistake: "Voy a llevar la pizza a tu casa. (Said while you are already at the friend's house)"
Correction: Voy a traer la pizza a tu casa. (If someone is bringing it to your current location). Use 'llevar' only when you are taking something somewhere else.
⭐ Usage Tips
Direction of Movement is Key
Always ask yourself: is the object moving toward the speaker or away from the speaker? If it's moving away or to a third location, llevar is your word.
Llevar is the standard verb used to say to wear clothing or accessories.
📝 In Action
Hoy llevo una chaqueta roja.
A1Today I'm wearing a red jacket.
¿Por qué siempre llevas ese sombrero?
A2Why do you always wear that hat?
Ella lleva el pelo corto ahora.
B1She wears her hair short now.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Llevar' and 'Ponerse'
Mistake: "Me llevo una chaqueta antes de salir."
Correction: Me pongo una chaqueta antes de salir. Use `ponerse` for the action of putting clothes on. Use `llevar` to describe what you are currently wearing.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing People
Llevar is perfect for describing what someone looks like right now. For example: 'La mujer que lleva el vestido verde es mi tía' (The woman wearing the green dress is my aunt).
The structure llevar + time is used to express to have been doing something for... a certain duration.
📝 In Action
Llevo dos horas esperando el autobús.
B1I've been waiting for the bus for two hours.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas viviendo en Madrid?
B1How long have you been living in Madrid?
Mi abuelo lleva 50 años casado.
B2My grandfather has been married for 50 years.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Llevar + Time + Gerund' Formula
To say how long you've been doing something, use this simple recipe: llevar (in the present) + [amount of time] + [verb ending in -ando/-iendo]. It's a great alternative to the present perfect continuous.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Haber' instead of 'Llevar'
Mistake: "He estado esperando por dos horas."
Correction: Llevo dos horas esperando. While the first sentence isn't technically wrong, using 'llevar' sounds much more natural to a native speaker for expressing duration.
⭐ Usage Tips
Also for States of Being
You don't always need a verb ending in -ando/-iendo. You can also talk about how long something has been in a certain state, like 'El coche lleva una semana en el taller' (The car has been in the shop for a week).
The reflexive form llevarse bien means to get along well with someone.
llevar(Verb)
to get along with
?used with 'bien', 'mal', 'fatal', etc.
to take away
?in a reflexive form, 'llevarse algo'
📝 In Action
Me llevo muy bien con mis compañeros de trabajo.
B1I get along very well with my coworkers.
Los hermanos a veces se llevan mal.
B2Siblings sometimes don't get along.
Alguien se llevó mi paraguas, no lo encuentro.
B2Someone took my umbrella, I can't find it.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic of 'Llevarse'
When you add 'se' to llevar, the meaning often changes. For relationships, you use it with words like bien (well) or mal (badly) to describe how people interact.
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the 'se'
For getting along, you must use the reflexive form llevarse. Saying 'Llevo bien con mi jefe' is incorrect; it must be 'Me llevo bien con mi jefe'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llevar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'llevar' to talk about how long something has been happening?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest way to remember the difference between 'llevar' and 'traer'?
Think about your location as the 'home base'. Use `llevar` for movement *away* from your home base (I'll take/llevar the cookies to your house). Use `traer` for movement *to* your home base (Please bring/traer cookies to my house). A good mnemonic is: **Llevar Leaves, Traer Comes Here.**
When do I use 'llevar' versus 'llevarse'?
Use plain `llevar` for its main meanings: to carry, to wear, or to talk about time. Use `llevarse` (the 'se' form) when you mean 'to get along with someone' (Me llevo bien con...) or when someone 'takes something away' for themselves, sometimes without permission (Alguien se llevó mi bolígrafo - Someone took my pen).