llevo
“llevo” means “I carry” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
I carry, I take
Also: I bring
📝 In Action
Siempre llevo mi botella de agua conmigo.
A1I always carry my water bottle with me.
Te llevo al aeropuerto mañana por la mañana.
A1I'll take you to the airport tomorrow morning.
Llevo el postre a la cena de esta noche.
A2I'm bringing the dessert to the dinner tonight.
I wear, I am wearing
Also: I have
📝 In Action
Hoy llevo una camiseta verde y vaqueros.
A1Today I'm wearing a green t-shirt and jeans.
No llevo reloj, ¿qué hora es?
A1I'm not wearing a watch, what time is it?
Llevo el pelo corto desde el verano.
A2I've had short hair since the summer.
I have been...
📝 In Action
Llevo tres años estudiando español.
A2I have been studying Spanish for three years.
Llevo mucho tiempo sin verte.
B1I haven't seen you for a long time.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas esperando?
A2How long have you been waiting?
I lead, I manage
Also: I handle
📝 In Action
Llevo una vida muy tranquila en el campo.
B1I lead a very quiet life in the countryside.
Yo llevo la contabilidad de la pequeña empresa de mi familia.
B1I handle the accounting for my family's small business.
Le llevo veinte euros a mi hermano.
B2My brother is twenty euros ahead of me. (I am ahead of my brother by 20 euros - in a game/bet)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: llevo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'llevo' to talk about how long something has been happening?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'levāre', which meant 'to lighten, raise, or lift up'. You can see the connection in its main meaning of 'carrying' or 'lifting' something to take it somewhere.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'llevar' and 'traer'?
Think about direction! 'Llevar' is about taking something *away* from your current location to somewhere else (like 'go and take'). 'Traer' is about bringing something *to* your current location (like 'come and bring'). If you're at home and going to a party, you say 'Llevo el vino a la fiesta'. If you're already at the party and your friend arrives, they say 'Traje el vino'.
How is 'llevarse' different from 'llevar'?
Adding 'se' makes the verb reflexive and often changes the meaning. 'Llevarse algo' can mean 'to take something away with you' (often without permission, like stealing). 'Llevarse bien/mal con alguien' is a very common phrase that means 'to get along well/badly with someone'. So, 'Llevo a mi hermano' means 'I take my brother', but 'Me llevo bien con mi hermano' means 'I get along well with my brother'.