Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to take" in Spanish: tomar
tomar
Note: to grab: agarrar
To take in Spanish is tomar. Say yo tomo and toma el bus. Tomar also means drink in Latin America: tomar un café.
Transit
Tomo el metro a las ocho.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tomar
Say it
toh-MAHR / TOH-moh / TOH-mahs
/to.ˈmaɾ/
toh-MAHR. Yo tomo is TOH-moh. Tú tomas is TOH-mahs.
"to take" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tomar | to take / to drink Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| yo tomo | I take / I drink Present first person. | Present first person. |
| tomar el bus | to take the bus Transport. | Transport. |
| tomar un café | to have a coffee Latin American drink sense. | Latin American drink sense. |
| tómalo | take it Imperative with pronoun. | Imperative with pronoun. |
How to use tomar in real life
- 1Transit
Tomo el metro a las ocho.
I take the metro at eight.
Tomo for first person.
- 2Café order
¿Tomas café o té?
Do you drink coffee or tea?
Tomas = drink here.
- 3Medicine
Toma esta pastilla con agua.
Take this pill with water.
Toma as a gentle command.
Mistakes English speakers make with tomar
Incorrect: Yo tomar el bus.
Correct: Yo tomo el bus.
Conjugate: yo tomo.
Incorrect: Yo bebo un café (when practicing tomar).
Correct: Yo tomo un café.
In Latin America tomar is the default for drinks.
Good to know
Good to knowTomar covers take a bus and have a drink. Agarrar or coger can mean grab; in some countries coger is vulgar, so travelers prefer tomar or agarrar. Llevar is take something with you.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing how to get downtown
ChatPal
¿Tomas el bus o caminas?
Do you take the bus or walk?
You
Tomo el bus cuando llueve.
I take the bus when it rains.
ChatPal
Hoy yo también tomo el bus.
Today I take the bus too.
You
Perfecto. Nos vemos en la parada.
Perfect. See you at the stop.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to take" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to take" in Spanish
How do I say I take the bus?
Tomo el bus.
Does tomar mean drink?
Yes, often—tomar un café is common.
Tomar vs llevar?
Tomar = take/drink; llevar = take/bring along.
How do you pronounce tomar?
toh-MAHR, stress on MAHR.
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