llevan

Llevan is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb llevar. It corresponds to "they carry," "they wear," or "they take," depending on the subject and context. It is also used in compound tenses and periphrastic constructions to express duration, as in they have been doing something for a period.

Llevar is a versatile verb with senses related to transport and possession. It can mean to physically carry or bear something, to wear clothing or accessories, or to transport people or goods from one place to another. It can also indicate taking something somewhere or guiding someone to a destination. In periphrastic use, llevar + gerund communicates ongoing action over time, similar to the English present perfect continuous, e.g., lleva estudiando dos horas, they have been studying for two hours.

Usage notes: In the present tense, the full conjugation is llevo, llevas, lleva, llevamos, lleváis, llevan. In most Spanish-speaking countries, ustedes llevan serves as the standard plural you form; in Spain, vosotros lleváis is common for informal address. The gerund form (llevar + gerund) expresses duration and can pair with other tenses to describe ongoing activity.

Etymology and related forms: llevar derives from a Latin root meaning to bear or carry, with broad application across senses of transport, possession, and duration. Related phrases include llevar a cabo (to carry out, to accomplish), llevar puesto (to wear), and llevar a alguien (to take someone along).

Examples: Ellos llevan paraguas. Ella lleva un vestido rojo. El tren lleva a los pasajeros a Madrid. ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas estudiando español? Llevo dos años estudiándolo.