Meaning and Usage
The verb traer means to bring in English. It is used to indicate the action of carrying or bringing something or someone toward the speaker or to a specified place. Traer is an irregular verb in Spanish and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense of traer shows irregularity particularly in the first-person singular form, where it changes to "traigo." This pattern helps denote that the speaker is currently bringing something.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | traigo | I bring | Yo traigo los libros a la clase. | I bring the books to the class. |
| tú | traes | you bring | Tú traes agua para la fiesta. | You bring water for the party. |
| él/ella/usted | trae | he/she/you bring | Ella trae su mochila a la escuela. | She brings her backpack to school. |
| nosotros/as | traemos | we bring | Nosotros traemos comida. | We bring food. |
| vosotros/as | traéis | you all bring | Vosotros traéis regalos. | You all bring gifts. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | traen | they/you all bring | Ellos traen sus instrumentos. | They bring their instruments. |
Past Tense (Preterite) Conjugation
The preterite tense of traer is irregular and follows a distinct stem change to "traj-." The endings differ from regular -er verbs.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | traje | I brought | Yo traje mi cuaderno ayer. | I brought my notebook yesterday. |
| tú | trajiste | you brought | Tú trajiste vino para la cena. | You brought wine for dinner. |
| él/ella/usted | trajo | he/she/you brought | Él trajo un regalo para ella. | He brought a gift for her. |
| nosotros/as | trajimos | we brought | Nosotros trajimos las sillas. | We brought the chairs. |
| vosotros/as | trajisteis | you all brought | Vosotros trajisteis mucha comida. | You all brought a lot of food. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | trajeron | they/you all brought | Ellos trajeron los documentos importantes. | They brought the important documents. |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
The imperfect tense of traer is more regular in form but still important to learn for past habitual actions or descriptions.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | traía | I was bringing | Yo traía flores a mi abuela. | I was bringing flowers to my grandmother. |
| tú | traías | you were bringing | Tú traías música para la fiesta. | You were bringing music for the party. |
| él/ella/usted | traía | he/she/you was bringing | Ella traía un vestido nuevo. | She was bringing a new dress. |
| nosotros/as | traíamos | we were bringing | Nosotros traíamos regalos cada año. | We were bringing presents every year. |
| vosotros/as | traíais | you all were bringing | Vosotros traíais bocadillos a la excursión. | You all were bringing snacks to the trip. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | traían | they/you all were bringing | Ellos traían comida para todos. | They were bringing food for everyone. |
Common Phrases with Traer
- Traer a alguien al mundo – to bring someone into the world (to give birth)
- Traer buenas/malas noticias – to bring good/bad news
- Traer de cabeza – to drive crazy or worry someone (figurative expression)
Summary
The verb traer is an essential irregular verb in Spanish that means to bring. It changes its stem in past tenses and has a distinctive first-person singular present form. Mastering its conjugations will greatly help in everyday communication.
For further practice, review the Irregular Verbs page under the grammar section to explore similar verbs like decir and poner.
