The Spanish verb traer means “to bring.” It is irregular in several tenses and moods, including the present indicative, preterite, subjunctive, and imperative. The irregularity mainly comes from the root change tra- → traig- in the first person singular and the use of j in the preterite and subjunctive forms.
Conjugation Patterns
- The root is tra-.
- First person singular present uses traig- (e.g., traigo).
- Preterite and imperfect subjunctive use traj-.
- The gerund is trayendo (note the y).
- The past participle is traído (with an accent).
Usage and Examples
- Traer means to bring something toward the speaker’s location.
- Use traer to indicate moving something or someone to the place where you are.
- Traer can be used with objects, people, and even abstract things like ideas or memories.
- It is often followed by a when referring to people (e.g., traer a Juan).
English Patterns
- "Traer" = "to bring" (moving something toward the speaker).
- Use to bring + object in English.
- English does not change the verb form as much; only pronouns change (he/she/they).
Full Conjugation Tables
Present Indicative
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo traigo | I bring | Yo traigo el libro. | I bring the book. | Traigo comida. | I bring food.
tú traes | you bring | ¿Tú traes el regalo? | Do you bring the gift? | Tú traes a María. | You bring María.
él/ella trae | he/she brings | Ella trae agua. | She brings water. | Él trae su mochila. | He brings his backpack.
nosotros traemos | we bring | Nosotros traemos vino. | We bring wine. | Traemos postre. | We bring dessert.
vosotros traéis | you all bring | Vosotros traéis pan. | You all bring bread. | Traéis ensalada. | You all bring salad.
ellos traen | they bring | Ellos traen juegos. | They bring games. | Traen invitados. | They bring guests.
Complete the sentence: "¿Tú ____ el regalo?" (Do you bring the gift?) (tú / traer)
traes
"Tú traes..." is the correct present indicative form for "you bring."
Preterite Indicative
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo traje | I brought | Yo traje flores. | I brought flowers. | Traje mi cartera. | I brought my wallet.
tú trajiste | you brought | Tú trajiste vino. | You brought wine. | ¿Trajiste postre? | Did you bring dessert?
él/ella trajo | he/she brought | Ella trajo música. | She brought music. | Él trajo comida. | He brought food.
nosotros trajimos | we brought | Trajimos regalos. | We brought gifts. | Trajimos todo. | We brought everything.
vosotros trajisteis | you all brought | Trajisteis bebidas. | You all brought drinks. | Trajisteis snacks. | You all brought snacks.
ellos trajeron | they brought | Ellos trajeron luces. | They brought lights. | Trajeron amigos. | They brought friends.
Complete the sentence: "¿Tú ____ vino?" (Did you bring wine?) (tú / traer)
trajiste
"Tú trajiste..." is the correct preterite form for "you brought."
Imperfect Indicative
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo traía | I used to bring | Yo traía juguetes. | I used to bring toys. | Traía mi libro. | I used to bring my book.
tú traías | you used to bring | Tú traías música. | You used to bring music. | Traías tus cosas. | You used to bring your things.
él/ella traía | he/she used to bring | Ella traía flores. | She used to bring flowers. | Él traía comida. | He used to bring food.
nosotros traíamos | we used to bring | Traíamos fruta. | We used to bring fruit. | Traíamos agua. | We used to bring water.
vosotros traíais | you all used to bring | Traíais pan. | You all used to bring bread. | Traíais jugo. | You all used to bring juice.
ellos traían | they used to bring | Ellos traían regalos. | They used to bring gifts. | Traían amigos. | They used to bring friends.
Complete the sentence: "Ellos ____ regalos." (They used to bring gifts.) (ellos / traer)
traían
"Ellos traían..." is the regular imperfect plural form showing repeated past action.
Future Indicative
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo traeré | I will bring | Yo traeré postre. | I will bring dessert. | Traeré vino. | I will bring wine.
tú traerás | you will bring | Tú traerás la cuenta. | You will bring the bill. | Traerás flores. | You will bring flowers.
él/ella traerá | he/she will bring | Él traerá invitados. | He will bring guests. | Ella traerá música. | She will bring music.
nosotros traeremos | we will bring | Traeremos regalos. | We will bring gifts. | Traeremos comida. | We will bring food.
vosotros traeréis | you all will bring | Traeréis platos. | You all will bring dishes. | Traeréis cerveza. | You all will bring beer.
ellos traerán | they will bring | Traerán postres. | They will bring desserts. | Traerán amigos. | They will bring friends.
Present Subjunctive
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo traiga | I bring | Espero que yo traiga ayuda. | I hope I bring help. | Ojalá que yo traiga suerte. | I hope I bring luck.
tú traigas | you bring | Quiero que tú traigas el libro. | I want you to bring the book. | Es importante que traigas comida. | It’s important you bring food.
él/ella traiga | he/she brings | Ojalá que ella traiga vino. | Hopefully she brings wine. | Que él traiga la cuenta. | Let him bring the bill.
nosotros traigamos | we bring | Espero que traigamos regalos. | I hope we bring gifts. | Que traigamos postre. | Let’s bring dessert.
vosotros traigáis | you all bring | Que traigáis bebidas. | Let you all bring drinks. | Espero que traigáis comida. | I hope you all bring food.
ellos traigan | they bring | Ojalá que traigan música. | Hopefully they bring music. | Que traigan invitados. | Let them bring guests.
Imperfect Subjunctive ( -ra ending)
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo trajera | I brought | Si yo trajera más tiempo... | If I brought more time... | Ojalá yo trajera flores. | I wish I brought flowers.
tú trajeras | you brought | Si tú trajeras ayuda... | If you brought help... | Si trajeras comida... | If you brought food.
él/ella trajera | he/she brought | Si él trajera vino... | If he brought wine... | Ojalá ella trajera música. | I wish she brought music.
nosotros trajéramos | we brought | Si trajéramos postre... | If we brought dessert... | Ojalá trajéramos regalos. | I wish we brought gifts.
vosotros trajerais | you all brought | Si trajerais jugo... | If you all brought juice... | Si trajerais ensalada... | If you all brought salad.
ellos trajeran | they brought | Si trajeran amigos... | If they brought friends... | Ojalá trajeran colores. | I wish they brought colors.
Present Perfect
Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example | Spanish Example 2 | English Example 2
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
yo he traído | I have brought | Yo he traído los libros. | I have brought the books. | He traído mi maleta. | I have brought my suitcase.
tú has traído | you have brought | ¿Has traído el postre? | Have you brought the dessert? | Has traído agua? | Have you brought water?
él/ella ha traído | he/she has brought | Ella ha traído comida. | She has brought food. | Él ha traído regalos. | He has brought gifts.
nosotros hemos traído | we have brought | Hemos traído vino. | We have brought wine. | Hemos traído flores. | We have brought flowers.
vosotros habéis traído | you all have brought | Habéis traído pan. | You all have brought bread. | Habéis traído jugo. | You all have brought juice.
ellos han traído | they have brought | Ellos han traído música. | They have brought music. | Han traído amigos. | They have brought friends.
Summary
- Traer means to bring something toward the speaker.
- It is irregular in the first person singular present (traigo), and uses traj- in some past forms.
- It takes a y in the gerund (trayendo).
- The past participle is traído (with an accent).
- Use traer to talk about bringing people, objects, or even abstract things.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
