Inklingo

How to Say "to wear" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to wear” is “llevar” — use 'llevar' to describe the act of having clothing, accessories, or a hairstyle on your body at a particular moment..

llevar🔊A1

Use 'llevar' to describe the act of having clothing, accessories, or a hairstyle on your body at a particular moment.

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ponerme🔊A1

Use 'ponerme' when talking about the action of putting on clothing or accessories, especially as part of getting ready.

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ponernos🔊A1

Use 'ponernos' when referring to the action of multiple people putting on clothing or accessories, often as a group activity.

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ponerse🔊A1

Use the reflexive verb 'ponerse' to describe the action of putting on clothing or accessories, directed at yourself or another person.

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usar🔊A2

Employ 'usar' to talk about using or wearing items like clothing, glasses, or perfume, often implying a choice or purpose.

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vestir🔊B1

Choose 'vestir' when describing how someone is dressed in terms of color, style, or uniformity, especially in a formal or habitual way.

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English → Spanish

llevar

/yeh-VAR//ʝeˈβaɾ/

VerbA1General
Use 'llevar' to describe the act of having clothing, accessories, or a hairstyle on your body at a particular moment.
A friendly cartoon character clearly wearing a bright red jacket and a blue scarf.

Examples

Hoy llevo una chaqueta roja.

Today I'm wearing a red jacket.

¿Por qué siempre llevas ese sombrero?

Why do you always wear that hat?

Ella lleva el pelo corto ahora.

She wears her hair short now.

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.

ponerme

/po-NER-me//poˈneɾme/

VerbA1General
Use 'ponerme' when talking about the action of putting on clothing or accessories, especially as part of getting ready.
A smiling person is putting a bright red scarf around their neck.

Examples

Necesito ponerme un abrigo, hace frío.

I need to put on a coat, it's cold.

Voy a ponerme estas gafas de sol antes de salir.

I'm going to put on these sunglasses before leaving.

Pronoun Attachment

The '-me' is the pronoun 'myself.' When you use an infinitive (like 'poner'), the pronoun always attaches directly to the end, making one word: 'ponerme'.

When to Use This Form

This form is used when the verb is governed by another conjugated verb (e.g., 'Quiero ponerme...') or when it is the subject of a sentence.

Misplacing the Pronoun

Mistake: “Me voy a poner un abrigo.”

Correction: Voy a ponerme un abrigo. (Both are correct, but attaching it to the infinitive is often more common and easier to learn.)

ponernos

poh-NEHR-nohs/poˈneɾnos/

VerbA1General
Use 'ponernos' when referring to the action of multiple people putting on clothing or accessories, often as a group activity.
Two children standing side-by-side, each simultaneously pulling a brightly colored striped sock onto their foot.

Examples

Antes de salir, tenemos que ponernos los abrigos.

Before leaving, we have to put our coats on.

Es agradable ponernos ropa cómoda después del trabajo.

It's nice to put on comfortable clothes after work.

Structure of Reflexive Infinitives

"Ponernos" is the base verb "poner" plus the pronoun "nos" (us/ourselves). This form is used when the action is directed back at the group performing it.

Forgetting 'nos'

Mistake: “Vamos a poner los zapatos.”

Correction: Vamos a ponernos los zapatos. (If 'we' are putting the shoes on 'ourselves', the 'nos' is required.)

VerbA1General
Use the reflexive verb 'ponerse' to describe the action of putting on clothing or accessories, directed at yourself or another person.

Examples

Necesitas ponerte un abrigo porque hace frío.

You need to put on a coat because it is cold.

usar

/oo-SAR//uˈsaɾ/

VerbA2General
Employ 'usar' to talk about using or wearing items like clothing, glasses, or perfume, often implying a choice or purpose.
A simple cartoon character with large, round blue glasses on their face, illustrating the act of wearing an accessory.

Examples

Hoy uso una chaqueta roja porque hace frío.

I'm wearing a red jacket today because it's cold.

Mi abuelo ya no usa sombrero.

My grandfather doesn't wear a hat anymore.

¿Qué perfume usas? Huele muy bien.

What perfume are you wearing? It smells very good.

vestir

/ves-TIR//besˈtiɾ/

VerbB1Formal/Descriptive
Choose 'vestir' when describing how someone is dressed in terms of color, style, or uniformity, especially in a formal or habitual way.
A person standing, showcasing a long, elegant emerald green dress they are wearing.

Examples

Todos los estudiantes visten de azul marino.

All the students wear navy blue (uniforms).

La sala estaba vestida de flores blancas para la boda.

The room was draped/decorated with white flowers for the wedding.

Ese actor siempre viste ropa de diseñador.

That actor always wears designer clothes.

Using 'De' for Color/Style

When describing the color or material of clothing someone is wearing, 'vestir' is often followed by the preposition 'de' (e.g., 'vestir de negro').

Choosing Between 'Llevar' and 'Ponerse'

Learners often confuse 'llevar' (to wear/carry) with 'ponerse' (to put on). Remember that 'llevar' describes the state of having something on, while 'ponerse' describes the action of putting it on. Think: 'I wear X' uses 'llevar', but 'I put on X' uses 'ponerse'.

Related Translations

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