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Video lesson

Traer y llevar

Duration: 4:06 Published: 13 Aug 2017

Irina, from Saint Petersburg, studies Spanish and also teaches it. She helps Pilar explain two verbs that confuse many students: traer and llevar.

Learn the difference between these two similar verbs with this free Spanish lesson brought to you by Tilde Madrid Spanish school in Madrid

Key points

  • The key is the position of the person who speaks.
  • Traer is to bring something here, to where I am: ¿Has traído muchos libros a Madrid?
  • Llevar is to take something there, away from me: He comprado regalos para llevar a San Petersburgo.
  • Llevarse can also mean to take home memories or impressions: Me llevo muy buenos recuerdos de Madrid.

Frequent doubts

Is traer the same as to bring?

Usually, but Spanish is stricter: traer is only towards the speaker's position. If you are going to a party, you say Llevo el vino, not Traigo el vino.

Is the present of traer irregular?

Only in the first person: yo traigo. The rest is regular: traes, trae, traemos, traéis, traen.

What Spanish sweets does Irina take home?

Turrón, polvorones and mazapanes, the typical Spanish Christmas sweets.

Part of Spanish Sessions, the YouTube channel of the teachers at Tilde Madrid — more than 3 million views.

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