trae
/tra-eh/
brings
The most common meaning of trae is 'brings,' referring to carrying something toward the speaker's location.
trae(Verb)
brings
?to carry something to the speaker's location
is bringing
?action in progress
,carries
?to have something with you
📝 In Action
Mi papá siempre me trae un regalo de sus viajes.
A1My dad always brings me a gift from his trips.
¿Usted trae el vino para la cena?
A2Are you (formal) bringing the wine for dinner?
Ella no trae paraguas y está lloviendo.
A2She isn't carrying an umbrella and it's raining.
💡 Grammar Points
Who It's For: 'él', 'ella', 'usted', and 'tú'
'Trae' is used for 'he', 'she', and the formal 'you' (él, ella, usted). It's also the command form for the familiar 'you' (tú). For example, 'Ella trae flores' (She brings flowers) and '¡Trae el libro!' (Bring the book!).
Here or There? 'Traer' vs. 'Llevar'
This is a big one! Use 'traer' (and its forms like 'trae') for movement TOWARDS the speaker. Use 'llevar' for movement AWAY. Think 'bring it HERE' (traer) vs. 'take it THERE' (llevar).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'traer' and 'llevar'
Mistake: "If you are at home and ask a friend to bring pizza, you wouldn't say '¿Puedes llevar una pizza?'."
Correction: Instead, say '¿Puedes traer una pizza?'. The pizza is coming TO YOU, so you need 'traer'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for Things in a Restaurant
'Trae' is perfect for politely asking a waiter for something. You can say, '¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor?' (Can you bring us the check, please?).
Trae can be used abstractly to mean 'causes' or 'brings about' a consequence, like stress causing problems.
trae(Verb)
causes
?to result in something
brings about
?to lead to a consequence
,entails
?to involve as a consequence
📝 In Action
La nueva ley trae cambios importantes para la economía.
B1The new law brings/causes important changes for the economy.
El estrés trae muchos problemas de salud.
B1Stress causes many health problems.
Esta situación trae consigo nuevas oportunidades.
B2This situation brings with it new opportunities.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About Cause and Effect
This meaning is great for sounding more advanced. Instead of always saying 'es la causa de...' (it's the cause of...), you can use 'trae' to link an event to its result.
Informally, trae means 'wears' or 'is wearing' clothes or accessories.
📝 In Action
Mira, Juan trae la misma camisa que yo.
B1Look, Juan is wearing the same shirt as me.
Ella siempre trae vestidos muy coloridos.
B1She always wears very colorful dresses.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Casual Alternative to 'Llevar'
While 'llevar puesto' is the most standard way to say 'to wear,' using 'traer' is very natural in everyday conversation. It's like you're 'bringing' the clothes with you on your body.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: trae
Question 1 of 1
In the sentence 'Esa película trae recuerdos de mi infancia,' what does 'trae' mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest way to remember the difference between 'trae' and 'lleva'?
Think about your location. If something is coming TO you, use 'trae' (from 'traer'). If something is going AWAY from you, use 'lleva' (from 'llevar'). A simple mnemonic is: **BRING** it here ('traer'), **TAKE** it there ('llevar').
Is 'trae' always for 'he' or 'she'?
Mostly, yes! It's the form for 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (you, formal). But it's also the command form for 'tú' (you, informal). For example, '¡Juan, trae el agua!' means 'Juan, bring the water!'