Spanish Verb Spotlight: Traer

Once a week or so, I’m going to spotlight a common Spanish verb and go over some common usages.  While some of them will be straightforward, others will undoubtedly have alternate meanings you may not be aware of.  Today’s verb is Traer.

Traer:  to bring

The most common translation for traer is “to bring” in the sense of something being delivered to you. 

He’s bringing me the keys -> Me trae las llaves

She brought me a cake yesterday -> Me trajo una torta ayer

Another common usage is for when somebody gives you a lift somewhere, i.e. takes you there.  Be careful not to confuse this usage of traer with llevar, which is a common mistake.

Eliot is taking me to the airport.-> Eliot me trae al aeropuerto

Traer is used to translate “to take, to bring” in the sense of taking something somewhere, but only when you have already arrived at your destination.  If are at a party discussing the cake you brought with you, traer would be the correct verb a la “I brought the cake -> Traje la torta.“  However, if you were at home discussing the coming party with the host and she asked what you would be bringing, you would use llevar to say “I’m bringing a cake -> Llevo una torta.“ 

One final common usage of traeris when ordering in a restaurant.  Instead of the more formal quisiera, many Spanish-speakers will use traer instead to ask for something to be brought to the table.  If used in the form of a question and followed by por favor, this is a perfectly polite way to do it, contrary to popular belief.

Could I have a beer, please?  -> ¿Me trae una cerveza, por favor?

Traer is a stem-changing verb, with the first-person present indicative conjugation being “traigo” and several irregularities in the other tenses to boot.  Consult your copy of 501 Spanish Verbs (if you don’t have one, you should!) for more conjugation information.