B1 · Word pairs
Ir, venir, llevar y traer
Four verbs that look easy and produce constant small errors, because English and Spanish measure direction from different points. English lets you take the listener's viewpoint; Spanish keeps the speaker's. Once you know that, all four fall into place at once.
The rule in one line
Venir and traer mean movement towards where the speaker is right now. Ir and llevar mean movement away from there, wherever the listener may be.
| Towards me | Away from me |
|---|---|
| venir — to come | ir — to go |
| traer — to bring | llevar — to take |
The classic error
Someone calls you to dinner and you answer from your room. In English you say I am coming. In Spanish you are moving away from where you are, so it is ya voy. Ya vengo would mean I will be back.
- —¡La comida está lista! —¡Ya voy!Dinner is ready! — Coming!
- Ya vengo.I will be right back. · leaving and returning
Llevar and traer at a party
- ¿Qué llevo a la fiesta?What shall I bring to the party? · you are not there yet
- ¿Qué traigo?What shall I bring? · said to someone already at the party
- Te llevo a casa.I will take you home.
Other meanings worth having
- llevar + tiempo: llevo dos años aquí — I have been here two years
- llevar puesto: lleva una chaqueta — she is wearing a jacket
- llevarse bien: me llevo bien con su mamá — I get on well with his mother
- ir a + infinitivo: voy a estudiar — the everyday future
Mistakes to avoid
—¿Vienes a comer? —Sí, ya vengo.
Sí, ya voy.
You are moving away from where you are.
Te traigo a tu casa.
Te llevo a tu casa.
Movement away from here.
Voy a tu casa y traigo el postre.
Voy a tu casa y llevo el postre.
From where you are speaking, the dessert travels away.
Try it
—¡La cena está lista! —¡Ya ___!
¿Qué ___ a la fiesta? (todavía en tu casa)
___ tres años viviendo en Lima.
Me ___ muy bien con mis suegros.