Traer vs Llevar – Bring vs Take
In Spanish, traer and llevar distinguish direction relative to the speaker: use traer when something moves toward the speaker and llevar when it moves away. This short guide explains each verb with quick examples and keyTips so you can choose naturally.
Traer
Use traer when someone moves an object toward the speaker's location, or when you ask for something to come to where you are. Think: bringing something here.
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Llevar
Use llevar when moving an object away from the speaker to another place, or when instructing someone to take something elsewhere. Think: taking something there.
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Examples
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 ¿Puedes traer las sillas de la terraza? | Can you bring the chairs from the terrace? | Speaker at home, chairs outside. |
| 👜 Te traje un pastel para la fiesta. | I brought you a cake for the party. | Gift arriving with speaker. |
| 📱 Trae tu cargador, que aquí no hay enchufe. | Bring your charger, there’s no outlet here. | Request to have item nearby. |
| 🚗 Voy a traer las maletas del coche. | I’m going to bring the suitcases from the car. | Moving items toward home. |
| 🐶 ¿Puedes traer al perro cuando vengas? | Can you bring the dog when you come? | Animal coming with guest. |
| 🎒 Siempre llevo una botella de agua en la mochila. | I always carry a bottle of water in my backpack. | Neutral "carry" action. |
| 🏢 Mañana llevo los documentos a la oficina. | Tomorrow I’ll take the documents to the office. | Moving items away from home. |
| 🍽️ Lleva esos platos a la cocina, por favor. | Take those plates to the kitchen, please. | Command to move items elsewhere. |
| 🧳 Llevaron todo el equipaje al hotel. | They took all the luggage to the hotel. | Transporting belongings away. |
| 🧵 Ella siempre lleva un kit de costura cuando viaja. | She always carries a sewing kit when she travels. | Personal item on the go. |
KeyTips
Remember that the choice between traer and llevar depends on the speaker's perspective and the reference point for the object's movement. When in doubt, ask where the object is going relative to you.
Summary
Use traer for movement toward the speaker and llevar for movement away; this small distinction aligns the action with the speaker's viewpoint and makes your Spanish sound natural.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025