Definition
To carry or bring something or someone from one place to another.
Example
Puoi portare il pane dal forno, per favore?
Show translation
Can you bring the bread from the bakery, please?
Etymology
From Latin *portāre* ("to carry, bear"), from Proto-Indo-European *per- ("to lead, pass over"). The same root gives English "port" (a place goods are carried through) and "portable."
Cultural note
In Italian, *portare* covers a wide range: carrying an object, bringing a person somewhere, and even wearing something (*portare un cappello* = to wear a hat). This last use often trips up English speakers who expect *indossare* for clothing. Also note the common phrase *portare bene/male* — literally "to carry well/badly" — used to mean that something brings good or bad luck.