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"Llevar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take", and "agarrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to grab". Learn more about the difference between "llevar" and "agarrar" below.
llevar(
yeh
-
bahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
c. to bring
Llevaremos nuestros propios patines a la fiesta.We'll bring our own skates to the party.
d. to give a ride (in a vehicle)
Te llevo a la estación si quieres.I can give you a ride to the station if you like.
2. (clothing)
a. to wear
Ella siempre lleva sus botas favoritas cuando nieva.She always wears her favorite boots when it snows.
a. to be ahead by
Me llevaba dos metros de ventaja en la carrera cuando se cayó.He was ahead of me by two meters in the race when he fell.
b. to be older than (related to age)
Mi marido me lleva dos meses.My husband is two months older than me.
6. (to manage)
a. to handle
Sofía lleva todos los asuntos de finanzas en la familia.Sofía handles all the finances in the family.
b. to deal with
¿Quién va a llevar lo del traslado de oficina?¿Who's going to deal with the office move?
c. to run
Mi padre está enfermo, por lo que yo estoy llevando la empresa familiar en este momento.My father is sick, so I'm running the family business at the moment.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. to have (used with past participle)
Lleva comidos cuatro trozos de pizza.She has already eaten four slices of pizza.
llevarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to transport)
11. (to be friends)
a. to get along
Las dos hermanas nunca se han llevado bien.The two sisters have never gotten along well.
a. to be in
Se llevan mucho las zapatillas de deporte con trajes ahora.Wearing sneakers with a suit is really in now.
13. (to steal)
a. to take
Por lo que se ve, los intrusos no se llevaron nada.As far as we can see, the intruders didn't take anything.
b. to walk away with
Los ladrones se llevaron los candeleros de plata.The thieves walked away with the silver candlesticks.
agarrar(
ah
-
gah
-
rrahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to grab
Lo agarró de la mano y siguieron por el camino de baldosas amarillas.She grabbed him by the hand, and they continued down the yellow-brick road.
c. to take hold of
El caballero agarró la espada y remató al dragón.The knight took hold of the sword and finished off the dragon.
d. to grip (with force)
Hay que agarrar bien el mango del martillo.You have to really grip the handle of the hammer.
e. to grasp (with force)
Extendió la mano para agarrar el Santo Grial.She reached out to grasp the Holy Grail.
f. to seize (by force)
La policía agarró las armas que encontraron en la casa.The police seized the arms they found in the house.
i. to hold
Agarraba una espada y me dijo que le entregara todo el oro que tuviera.He was holding a sword and told me to give him all the gold I had.
2. (to capture)
a. to catch
La gente del pueblo montaron en sus caballos y se marcharon para agarrar al ladrón.The townspeople got on their horses and left to catch the thief.
a. to get hold of
Si podemos agarrar el tesoro, seremos ricos.If we can get hold of the treasure, we'll be rich.
a. to get
Hablo bien español, pero a veces no agarro los chistes que cuenta la gente.I speak Spanish well, but sometimes I don't get the jokes that people tell.
5. (colloquial) (to become sick with)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to catch
El profesor le agarró con una chuleta en la manga.The teacher caught him with a cheat-sheet in his sleeve.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to go) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to take
Agarra por la primera calle y sube desde allí.Take the first right, and then go up from there.
b. to head
La familia agarró para el campo para pasar un día tranquilo allí.The family headed for the country to spend a relaxing day there.
c. to up (colloquial) (used with another verb)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Si no tratas un poco mejor a tu novia, va a agarrar e irse.If you don't treat your girlfriend better, she's going to up and leave.
9. (botany)
a. to take root
La planta no agarra si la tierra está demasiado suelta.The plant won't take root if the earth is too loose.
a. to grip
No me gustan tanto esas llantas porque no agarran en las curvas.I don't like these tires as much because they don't grip on the curves.
11. (color)
12. (to do something abruptly) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to up (used with another verb)
Agarró y se fue sin decir nada.He upped and left without saying anything.
agarrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
13. (to clutch)
a. to hold on
El marinero se agarró al mástil con toda su fuerza.The sailor held on to the mast with all his might.
b. to grip
El gato se cayó después de agarrar la rama que se rompió.The cat fell after it gripped the broken branch.
a. to stick
Los huevos se agarraron a la sartén porque no le pusiste aceite.The eggs stuck to the pan because you didn't use oil.
15. (to get into a fight) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to have a fight
Esos dos muchachos van a agarrarse si alguien no los separa.Those two guys are going to have a fight if someone doesn't separate them.
16. (colloquial) (to become)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Se agarró a los deberes para no tener que lavar los platos.She used her homework as an excuse to not wash the dishes.
Te agarras a tu herida para evitar las tareas en casa.You use your injury to get out of chores around the house.
