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Spanish Level 2 verb

llevar

/ʎeˈβar/

Definition

To carry or take something or someone from one place to another.

Example

Siempre llevo mi mochila a la escuela.

Show translation

I always carry my backpack to school.

Etymology

From Latin *levare* ("to lift, raise"), which also gave rise to English "elevate" and "lever." The shift from "lifting" to "carrying" happened naturally in Vulgar Latin and carried into Old Spanish.

Cultural note

*Llevar* is one of the most versatile verbs in Spanish. Beyond physical carrying, it expresses duration (*llevo tres años aquí* — "I've been here three years"), wearing clothing (*llevar una camisa*), and even leading or guiding someone. Don't confuse it with *traer* ("to bring toward the speaker") — a classic false-step for English learners who default to "bring" and "take" without thinking about direction.

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