Llevar and traer both mean "to carry" or "to bring" in Spanish, but they are used in different contexts based on the direction of movement relative to the speaker or listener. Llevar means to take something from the current location to another place (away from the speaker), while traer means to bring something toward the speaker's current location.
Usage
- Llevar = to take something somewhere else (away from the current location).
- Traer = to bring something here (toward the current location).
Examples:
- Llevar el libro a la escuela. (Take the book to school.)
- Traer el libro a casa. (Bring the book home.)
Conjugations
Here are the present tense conjugations for both verbs:
Llevar (to take/carry away)
| Spanish Pronoun | Llevar | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | llevo | I take/carry |
| tú | llevas | You take/carry |
| él/ella | lleva | He/she takes/carries |
| nosotros | llevamos | We take/carry |
| ellos/as | llevan | They take/carry |
Traer (to bring)
| Spanish Pronoun | Traer | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | traigo | I bring |
| tú | traes | You bring |
| él/ella | trae | He/she brings |
| nosotros | traemos | We bring |
| ellos/as | traen | They bring |
We bring gifts to the house.
Traemos regalos a la casa.
Traer is used because the gifts are being brought toward the current location (the house). llevar would imply taking them away.
She takes her backpack to school.
Ella lleva su mochila al colegio.
Llevar is correct because the backpack is being taken away from the current location to the school.
Practical Examples
Llevar (Take something somewhere else)
- Llevo comida a la fiesta. (I take food to the party.)
- Ella lleva su mochila al colegio. (She takes her backpack to school.)
- Nosotros llevamos los documentos al banco. (We take the documents to the bank.)
Traer (Bring something here)
- Traigo una botella de agua. (I bring a bottle of water.)
- ¿Puedes traerme un lápiz? (Can you bring me a pencil?)
- Ellos traen regalos a la casa. (They bring gifts to the house.)
Summary Table
| Spanish Verb | English Meaning | Direction of Movement | Example in Spanish | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llevar | to take, to carry | Away from current location | Llevo el libro a la escuela. | I take the book to school. |
| Traer | to bring | Toward current location | Traigo el libro a casa. | I bring the book home. |
Remember: Ask yourself, "Am I taking something away (llevar) or bringing something here (traer)?"
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- Traer: traes
- English Example: You bring
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Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
