Llevar

Llevar is a very common Spanish verb with several important meanings. The intended meaning usually becomes clear from the words that follow it.

1. To take or carry

Use this pattern when a person or thing moves to a destination:

llevar + person or thing + destination
= to take or carry someone or something somewhere

• Llevo este paquete a la oficina.
  I’m taking this package to the office.
• Marta lleva a los niños al colegio.
  Marta takes the children to school.

When choosing between llevar and traer, direction and the conversational reference point matter. See Traer vs Llevar for the simple direction rule.

2. To wear

Use llevar + clothing or accessory to say what someone is wearing. Spanish often uses llevar where English uses “wear.”

• Lleva una chaqueta negra.
  She is wearing a black jacket.
• Hoy llevo gafas.
  I’m wearing glasses today.

3. To have been doing something

The pattern llevar + time + gerund expresses how long an action has been continuing.

• Llevo tres años viviendo en Barcelona.
  I’ve been living in Barcelona for three years.
• Llevamos dos horas esperando.
  We’ve been waiting for two hours.

For the related pattern with sin + infinitive and more examples, see Llevar + Time.

4. To have, contain, or include

Llevar can describe the ingredients, components, or other things that something contains. This use is especially common when talking about food.

• Esta ensalada lleva queso.
  This salad contains cheese.
• ¿Esto lleva azúcar?
  Does this have sugar in it?

5. To get along

Use llevarse bien / mal con alguien to describe your relationship with someone.

• Me llevo bien con mis compañeros.
  I get along well with my coworkers or classmates.
• No se lleva muy bien con su hermano.
  He or she doesn’t get along very well with their brother.

This is the reflexive form llevarse. It is a separate but extremely common use.

Quick summary

• llevar algo a un lugar → take or carry
• llevar ropa → wear
• llevar + time + gerund → have been doing
• llevar ingredientes → contain
• llevarse bien / mal → get along

Llevar has even more idiomatic uses in advanced Spanish, but these are the meanings learners encounter most often.