llevo

Llevo is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb llevar. The basic meanings include to carry or bear something, to wear or have on, to take or transport from one place to another, and more broadly to conduct, lead, or endure. It also appears in constructions that express duration of an ongoing action or state.

In everyday use, llevar covers many common situations. For example, “Llevo una mochila” means I am carrying a backpack; “Llevo puesto un abrigo” means I am wearing a coat; and “Llevo dos años viviendo aquí” expresses a duration, “I have been living here for two years.” The verb also appears in phrases related to transportation or delivering someone or something, and in the expression “para llevar,” meaning takeout or to go in a restaurant.

Grammar and forms. Llevar is a regular -ar verb, with present tense forms: llevo, llevas, lleva, llevamos, lleváis, llevan. Its gerund is llevando, and the past participle is llevado. The verb combines with other elements to form tenses that express duration (llevar + gerund, as in “llevar esperando”), and it forms reflexive or pronominal senses in “llevarse” (to take away, to get along) and in phrases like “nos llevamos bien.”

Usage notes. Beyond basic meanings, llevar supports many figurative expressions (to carry out plans, to lead a life, to endure a hardship) and appears in daily and formal registers. It is a foundational verb in Spanish, frequently taught to learners for its versatility.