Definition
To carry or take something (or someone) from one place to another; also used to express how long something has been going on.
Example
Ella lleva el libro a la escuela cada día.
Show translation
She takes the book to school every day.
Etymology
From Latin *levāre* ("to lift, raise"), from *levis* ("light in weight"). The shift from lifting to carrying/taking is natural: you lift something, then move it along. The same Latin root gives English "levitate" and "lever."
Cultural note
*Llevar* is one of the most versatile verbs in Spanish and a key source of learner confusion. Beyond physical carrying ("llevar una bolsa"), it expresses duration: *Llevo tres años estudiando español* ("I've been studying Spanish for three years") — a structure with no direct English equivalent that trips up many learners. It also means to wear clothing in many regions (*lleva una camisa roja* = "he's wearing a red shirt"), competing with *vestir* or *ponerse*. Be careful not to confuse it with *traer* (to bring *toward* the speaker) — the llevar/traer distinction mirrors the English take/bring distinction.