llevarse
“llevarse” means “to take (something) with you” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to take (something) with you, to walk off with
Also: to carry away, to take along
📝 In Action
Me voy al trabajo, ¿te llevo algo de la nevera?
A2I'm heading to work, should I take something for you from the fridge?
El niño se llevó todas las galletas antes de que llegáramos.
B1The child took all the cookies before we arrived.
Lamentablemente, alguien se llevó mi cartera del banco.
B2Unfortunately, someone walked off with my wallet at the bank.
to get along (with someone), to be friends
Also: to be on good terms
📝 In Action
Mi hermana y yo nos llevamos muy bien.
A2My sister and I get along very well.
¿Cómo te llevas con tu nuevo jefe?
B1How do you get along with your new boss?
Aunque tienen opiniones diferentes, se llevan con respeto.
B2Even though they have different opinions, they treat each other with respect.
to win, to be fashionable
Also: to take the prize, to be in style
📝 In Action
El equipo local se llevó la copa después de un partido intenso.
B2The local team won the cup after an intense match.
Este año, los colores pastel se llevan mucho.
B2This year, pastel colors are very fashionable.
Si sigues practicando, te llevarás el premio gordo.
C1If you keep practicing, you will win the big prize.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llevarse
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'llevarse' is used in the sentence: 'Mis primos se llevan 10 años de diferencia'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *levare*, meaning 'to lift' or 'to lighten' a load. Over time, this concept of lifting or handling a weight evolved into the general Spanish meaning of 'to carry' or 'to take.' The addition of '-se' focuses the action back onto the person doing the carrying or taking.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around 10th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'llevarse' different from the simple verb 'llevar'?
'Llevar' means simply 'to carry,' 'to wear,' or 'to take.' 'Llevarse' adds a layer of meaning: either the action comes back to the subject (you take something *for yourself*), or it creates a reciprocal action (you *get along* with someone), or it is part of a fixed idiom (like winning a prize).
Can 'llevarse' be used to talk about stealing?
Yes, absolutely. Saying 'Se llevaron mi móvil' (They took my phone) is a very common and slightly less harsh way to imply theft than using the verb 'robar' (to rob/steal).