traer
“traer” means “to bring” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to bring, to fetch
Also: to carry
📝 In Action
¿Puedes traer la comida de la cocina?
A1Can you bring the food from the kitchen?
Siempre traigo mi libro favorito conmigo.
A2I always carry my favorite book with me.
Mi tío nos trajo un regalo de su viaje.
A2My uncle brought us a gift from his trip.
to cause, to result in
Also: to involve
📝 In Action
La crisis económica trae consigo muchas preocupaciones.
B1The economic crisis brings with it many worries.
Tu actitud trajo problemas a todo el equipo.
B1Your attitude caused problems for the whole team.
¿Qué nos trae el futuro?
B2What does the future hold for us? (Literally: What does the future bring us?)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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🗣️ Practice in a Tongue Twister
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: traer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the highly irregular 'yo' form of 'traer' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin verb *trahere*, meaning 'to drag' or 'to pull.' This connection explains why the Spanish word is used for movement and conveyance.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'traer' irregular in every tense?
No. The main irregularities are the 'yo' form in the present tense ('traigo') and the strong stem 'traj-' used in the simple past (preterite) and related forms like the subjunctive. The imperfect, future, and conditional tenses are regular.
How do I remember the difference between 'traer' and 'llevar'?
Think of 'traer' (to bring) as related to the English 'come' (movement toward the speaker). Think of 'llevar' (to take) as related to the English 'go' (movement away from the speaker). 'Traer' implies proximity or destination.