Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?

Llegar vs llevar. Do they sound similar to you? That might be the case, but today you’ll see that these two verbs have very little in common.

They only seem similar because of how they sound. 

Let’s have a look now at all the shades of meanings of llegar vs llevar with many example sentences. I’ll also show you how to conjugate these -AR verbs in some basic tenses.

Let’s start.

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Llegar Vs llevar – The Basics

You will mainly translate llegar into “to arrive” or “to get,” but you’ll see that is more to this verb, and it often expresses figurative meanings. It is an intransitive verb that doesn’t require a direct object afterward, it will never be followed by who or what.

Mis primos llegaron ayer.

My cousins arrived yesterday.

Llevar, on the other hand, is a transitive verb, and it usually translates into “to take.” Of course, it also has other meanings that I will show you. 

As a transitive verb, it is always followed by a direct object, who, or what.

Lleva el perro al doctor.

Take the dog to the doctor.

Let’s go to the details now of llegar vs llevar. 

Verb Llegar 

I will show you first how to use llegar and how to conjugate it in some basic sentences.

Meaning and Usage of Llegar

As I already mentioned before, llegar mainly translates into “to arrive” and “to get,” let’s see now this and other meanings.

1. To Reach a Place

The easiest meaning to remember is when llegar translates into “to arrive”  or “to get” to a place.

¡Mamá, ya llegué!

Mom, I’m home!

Tus libros llegarán mañana.

Your books will arrive tomorrow.

¿Cuándo llegamos?

When will we arrive?

2. To Be The Time For

You can also use llegar to talk about when things happen in a certain moment.

Y ni nos dimos cuenta cuando llegó el día del ensayo general.

And we didn’t even notice when the day of the dress rehearsal arrived.

Ya quiero que llegue el verano.

I can’t wait for summer to arrive.

3. To Be Sufficient

Llegar also means to be enough

El dinero que recibo no me llega, así que tendré que buscar otro trabajo.

The money I get is not enough, so I will have to look for another job.

4. To Extend

If you use llegar with the preposition a, it can mean to reach something.

El cable no llega, tienes que pasarme uno más largo.

The cable does not reach, you have to give me a longer one.

It can also be used figuratively in this sense.

El precio llegó a su máximo.

The price has reached its maximum.

5. To Get To

Another meaning with the preposition a is to get to something or become someone, used in a figurative meaning.

Así nunca llegarás a ser alguien.

This way, you will never become somebody.

Juntos llegamos a la conclusión que esto no tiene sentido.

Together we came to the conclusion that this makes no sense.

6. To Be Able To

Llegar also means to manage to do something.

¿Llegaste a ver el cantante desde tu lugar?

Did you get to see the singer from your place?

Llegar Expressions 

You can also use llegar in some expressions.

1. Llegar lejos

This expression may be used to predict a bright future for someone. 

Esta chica llegará lejos. 

This girl will go far. 

2. Llegar y besar (el santo)

You’ll use this one to explain the rapidity with which something is done, being successful the first time you do something.

Ayer llegué y besé el santo en el casino. ¡Gané en el bingo y fue mi primera vez!

Yesterday I arrived and kissed the saint in the casino. I won at bingo, and it was my first time!

Conjugation of Llegar

Let’s see how the verb llegar conjugates in the present, past, and future tenses. It’s a -ar verb with very few irregularities that are easy to learn.

Present Tense Conjugation Chart: Llegar

Llegar is regular in the present tense. 

Llegamos mañana a las 4 pm.

We will arrive tomorrow at 4 pm.

El agua llega hasta las rodillas. 

The water reaches our knees.

Preterite Tense Conjugation Chart: Llegar

The verb llegar is regular in all forms of the Spanish preterite tense but the first person singular.

Llegaste justo a tiempo.

You arrived just in time.

Ayer me llegaron juguetes nuevos. 

Yesterday I got new toys.

Future Tense Conjugation Chart: Llegar  

You’ll be happy to hear that llegar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish future simple tense.

¿A qué hora llegarás?

What time will you arrive?

Verb Llevar 

I will show you now how to use llevar and how to conjugate it in some basic sentences.

Meaning and Use of Llevar

As I already mentioned, llevar mainly translates into “to take something,” but it has many other meanings.

1. To Transport

Use llevar to mean to take or carry something from one place to another, or even to give a ride to someone or to escort someone to a place.

Lleva esta ropa a su lugar.

Take these clothes to their place.

Tienes que llevar tus cubiertos al comedor.

You have to take your cutlery to the dining room. 

Me llevas a la estación, por favor. 

Take me to the station, please. 

El portero nos llevó hasta nuestra habitación.

The doorman led us to our room.

2. To Wear

Another common meaning is to wear something.

Me gusta siempre llevar algo negro.

I always like to wear something black.

3. To Spend Time On Something

If you want to say that something “takes” you a certain amount of time, use llevar.

¿Cuánto tiempo lleva llegar hasta la cima?

How long does it take to get to the top?

Llevo cinco horas estudiando y ya no puedo más. 

I have been studying for five hours and I can’t take it anymore. 

4. To Be More Than

Llevar also means to be ahead of something or someone, or to be older.

El piloto mexicano lleva 10 segundos de ventaja.

The Mexican driver is 10 seconds ahead.

Le llevo 4 años a mi hermana.

I am 4 years older than my sister.

5. To Manage

Levar also means to handle something in a literal or figurative sense.

Mi padre lleva la compañía.

My father runs the company.

¿Y cómo llevas lo del divorcio?

And how are you coping with the divorce?

6. To Lead To

In literal meaning, llevar can also mean “to lead to.”

Todos los caminos llevan a Roma.

All the roads lead to Rome.

7. To Have (Auxiliary)

Llevar also can function as an auxiliary verb when used with the past participle.

Llevo leídas cuarenta páginas.

I have read forty pages.  

Llevar expressions 

There are not so many idiomatic expressions with llevar that you will use on a common basis.

1. Llevar consigo

To have it as a consequence or to carry it along. 

El dinero no siempre lleva consigo el estilo.

Money does not always bring style.

Check here other Expressions with llevar.

Conjugation of Llevar

Let’s see how the verb llegar conjugates in the present, past, and future tenses. It’s a regular -ar verb.

Present Tense Conjugation Chart: Llevar

Llevar is regular in the present tense. 

Te llevo si quieres.

If you want, I can give you a ride.

No deberían llevar nada pesado pues es una caminata muy larga.

You should not carry anything that’s too heavy because it is a very long hike.

Preterite Tense Conjugation Chart: Llevar

The verb llevar is regular in all forms of the Spanish preterite tense.

No llevamos nada al cumpleañero.

We didn’t bring anything to the birthday boy.

Su padre llevó la compañía a la bancarrota.

His father drove the company into bankruptcy.

Future Tense Conjugation Chart: Llevar  

You’ll be happy to hear that llevar is also regular in all forms of the Spanish future simple tense.

¿A qué hora llevarán los platos sucios a la cocina?

At what time will you take the dirty dishes to the kitchen?

Check here other forms of conjugation of llevar.

Llegar vs. Llevar  – Multiple-Choice Quiz

Ready to check if you remember all about llegar vs llevar? There’s one correct option for each question.

1. Te _________ al aeropuerto
   1. llevo
   2. llego
2. No deberías _________ este vestido, te va a dar frío.
   1. llevar
   2. llegar
3. ¿Cuánto tardamos en _________?
   1. llevar
   2. llegar
4. Tus libros todavía no _________.
   1. llevan
   2. llegan
5. Ya _________ la primavera.
   1. llevó
   2. llegó
6. Mi marido me _____ cinco años.
   1. lleva
   2. llega
7. No me _________ mi sueldo.
   1. lleva
   2. llega
8. ¿Cómo _________ tu enfermedad?
   1. llevas
   2. llegas
9. ¿Te gustaría _________ la empresa?
   1. llevar
   2. llegar
10. ¿_________ a ver el arco iris?
    1. Llevaste
    2. Llegaste

Keep Practicing Llegar vs Llevar

Did you get it all right? I’m sure you’re motivated right now to keep learning, and llegar vs llevar no longer are troublesome to you.

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.

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