llevar vs vestir
I am trying to get the difference between llevar and vestir straight in my mind.
Llevar = to wear
El llevaba un traje azul. He was wearing a blue suit. Ella llevaba negro. She wore black.
Vestir = to be dressed in
El vestía un traje azul. He was dressed in a blue suit. Se vestía en negro. She dressed herself in black.
Is this okay? Or am I trying for a too literal translation?
3 Answers
Your understanding of "llevar" is good, but "vestir" works differently.
El vestía en un traje azul. He was dressed in a blue suit. Se vestía en negro. She dressed herself in black.
What you have said here is "He always dressed in a blue suit" and "she always dressed herself in black." To use "vestir" like "llevar" we say, ie: "Él andaba / iba vestido en un traje azul." "en un(a)" can also be substituted with "de." The infinitive vestir means the process of putting on clothes / to dress.
Llevar and vestir can be both thought of as to sport a piece of clothing in English. Llevar has other meanings, but when you say llevar puesto, you are only referring to something you are wearing/sporting.
Llevar= to wear
vestir= to dress
vestirse= to put on, to dress in
I hope that helps, in addition to Julian's answer.
