In Spanish, the verbs tomar and llevar both relate to the idea of "taking," but they are used in different contexts and are not interchangeable.
- Tomar: Used when you "take" something for yourself, such as food, drink, or a noun in a broader sense (also used for seizing opportunities or transportation).
- Llevar: Used when you "take" something or someone from one place to another, emphasizing transport or delivery.
*llevar*
Yes
Tomar: To Take (for Oneself), To Drink, To Seize
Tomar is a versatile verb that can mean to take, drink, eat, or even seize, depending on the context.
When to Use Tomar
- When taking something for yourself (food, drink, medicine, etc.).
- When consuming beverages or food.
- When taking a mode of transportation (e.g., a bus, taxi).
- When seizing or grabbing something (e.g., an opportunity).
- When taking a class or test.
Examples with Tomar
| Context | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Food/Drink | Ella toma café cada mañana. | She drinks coffee every morning. |
| Medicine | Toma esta medicina dos veces al día. | Take this medicine twice a day. |
| Transportation | Tomo el autobús al trabajo. | I take the bus to work. |
| Opportunity | Tomaron la oportunidad para viajar. | They took the opportunity to travel. |
| Test/Class | Vamos a tomar un examen. | We're going to take a test. |
*tomar*
Yes
Llevar: To Take (from Here to There), To Bring (Away from the Speaker)
Llevar emphasizes moving someone or something from one place to another, usually away from the current location of the speaker.
When to Use Llevar
- When you deliver or transport something/someone to another place.
- For actions that involve carrying, bringing, or moving away.
Examples with Llevar
| Context | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Transporting Someone | Llevo a mis hijos al colegio. | I take my children to school. |
| Delivering Something | ¿Puedes llevar esta carta al banco? | Can you take this letter to the bank? |
| Moving Something/Someone | Ella lleva la caja al sótano. | She takes the box to the basement. |
*llevar*
Yes
Summary
| Verb | Main Meaning | Key Usage | Example (English) | Example (Spanish) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomar | To take (for oneself), to drink, to use | Taking food/drink/medicine; catching transport; seizing opportunities; taking tests | To take/drink/consume; to take (transport) | She takes/drinks coffee. (Ella toma café.) |
| Llevar | To take (from here to there), to bring (away) | Transporting or moving people/things from one place to another | To take someone to school (transporting) | I take my kids to school. (Llevo a mis hijos al colegio.) |