Portare means to carry, to bring, to take (someone or something somewhere) and to wear. Prendere means to take, to get, to grab, to catch (a bus, a train) and to have (a coffee). This lesson starts from the Italian verbs: their meanings, their conjugation and the sentences they build. If you start from English and want to know how to translate “to take” and “to bring”, read my lesson To take and to bring.
How to use the Italian Verbs “Prendere” and “Portare”
In Italian, prendere and portare are often translated to “take” and “bring” in English. However, their use hinges on subtle differences in direction, purpose, and perspective:
- Portare focuses on bringing something towards a destination.
Puoi portare i fiori alla nonna?
Can you bring the flowers to Grandma?
Here, portare is used because the focus is on taking the flowers to Grandma, making her the end destination.
- Prendere emphasizes the action of taking or obtaining something, specifically focused on grabbing or getting it.
Vado a prendere i fiori dal fioraio.
I’m going to get the flowers from the florist.
Here, prendere is used because you’re picking up the flowers from the florist, emphasizing the action of acquiring them rather than where they’re going next.
Portare and Prendere Meaning at a Glance
| Verb | Meaning in English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| portare | to carry | Porto la borsa. (I’m carrying the bag.) |
| portare | to bring, to take somewhere | Porto i bambini a scuola. (I take the children to school.) |
| portare | to wear | Porta sempre il cappello. (He always wears a hat.) |
| prendere | to take, to grab | Prendo il libro dallo scaffale. (I take the book from the shelf.) |
| prendere | to pick up, to collect | Vado a prendere i bambini a scuola. (I’m going to pick up the children from school.) |
| prendere | to catch (transport, a cold) | Ho preso il treno delle otto. (I caught the eight o’clock train.) |
| prendere | to have (food and drinks) | Prendo un caffè. (I’ll have a coffee.) |
In short, portare is about moving something or someone along with you towards a place, while prendere is about taking hold of something or getting it. Notice how “take” in English is sometimes portare (I take the children to school) and sometimes prendere (I take the book from the shelf).
“Portare” vs “Prendere” in Italian
Portare: Meaning
As I mentioned before, portare is all about carrying or bringing something to a specific place. This is why it is typically translated as “to bring”, although English sometimes uses the verb “to take” to convey the same meaning.
When you use portare, think of transporting an item or a person toward a destination. It’s the action of moving something from one location to another with a focus on where it’s going.
Puoi portare il vino alla festa?
Can you bring the wine to the party?
Lui porta sempre i suoi libri a scuola.
He always brings his books to school.
Portare is also versatile and can mean other things, depending on context:
- To Wear:
Lei porta sempre gli occhiali.
She always wears glasses.
- To Lead or Bring Metaphorically:
Questo lavoro porta molte soddisfazioni.
This job brings a lot of satisfaction.
Prendere: Meaning
Prendere, on the other hand, centers on grabbing, receiving, or picking up something, typically implying movement away from where it was. It’s commonly used when you take an item for yourself or when you board or catch transportation.
Devo prendere le medicine ogni giorno.
I have to take the medicines every day.
Puoi prendere il libro per me?
Can you take (or get) the book for me?
Like portare, prendere has multiple uses:
- To Order Food or Drinks:
Prendo un caffè, grazie.
I’ll have a coffee, thanks.
- To Get or Catch Transportation:
Prendiamo un taxi.
Let’s take a taxi.
Conjugation of Portare and Prendere
Portare is a regular verb in -are. Prendere is a verb in -ere with an irregular past participle (preso) and an irregular passato remoto (presi).
Portare
| Tense | Io | Tu | Lui/Lei | Noi | Voi | Loro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | porto | porti | porta | portiamo | portate | portano |
| Passato prossimo | ho portato | hai portato | ha portato | abbiamo portato | avete portato | hanno portato |
| Imperfetto | portavo | portavi | portava | portavamo | portavate | portavano |
| Future | porterò | porterai | porterà | porteremo | porterete | porteranno |
Prendere
| Tense | Io | Tu | Lui/Lei | Noi | Voi | Loro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | prendo | prendi | prende | prendiamo | prendete | prendono |
| Passato prossimo | ho preso | hai preso | ha preso | abbiamo preso | avete preso | hanno preso |
| Imperfetto | prendevo | prendevi | prendeva | prendevamo | prendevate | prendevano |
| Future | prenderò | prenderai | prenderà | prenderemo | prenderete | prenderanno |
Both verbs take avere in the passato prossimo.
How to Build Sentences with Portare and Prendere
- portare qualcosa a qualcuno (to bring something to someone).
- portare qualcuno + a + place (to take someone to a place).
- prendere qualcosa da / dal / dalla… (to take something from a place).
- andare a prendere / venire a prendere (to go and pick up, to come and pick up).
Porto un regalo a Marco.
I’m bringing Marco a present.
Domani porto Luca dal dentista.
Tomorrow I’m taking Luca to the dentist.
Prendo le chiavi dalla tasca.
I take the keys out of my pocket.
Vengo a prenderti alla stazione.
I’ll come and pick you up at the station.
With a pronoun, attach it to the infinitive: Puoi portarlo qui? (Can you bring it here?) and Vado a prenderlo (I’m going to get it). With people, prendere means to pick them up and portare means to take them somewhere, so Prendo Marco alla stazione and Porto Marco alla stazione are two different things: in the first you pick him up at the station, in the second you take him there.
Common Expressions
Common Expressions with “Prendere”
- Prendere il sole (to sunbathe): Italians say prendere il sole when they’re enjoying time in the sun, typically at the beach.
- Prendere un caffè (to have a coffee): this is a popular phrase in Italy, where coffee culture is deeply embedded. Italians use it to invite someone for coffee.
- Prendere una decisione (to make a decision)
- Prendere in giro (to tease / make fun of): Italians use this phrase to mean teasing or joking around with someone, often in a lighthearted way.
- Prendersi una pausa (to take a break; Italians also say fare una pausa): this expression is used when someone needs a rest or a pause from work or an activity.
- Prendere fiato (to catch one’s breath): used after physical exertion or a busy moment.
- Prendere sul serio (to take seriously): this phrase is used to indicate when something is being taken seriously, without any humor or doubt.
- Prendere il via (to get started): often used to indicate the start of an event or activity.
Common Expressions with “Portare”
- Portare a termine (to bring to completion): this phrase means finishing something, like a project or task.
- Portare fortuna / sfortuna (to bring good luck / bad luck): embedded in the tradition of Italian’s superstitions.
- Portare pazienza(to be patient): this phrase is often used when asking someone to remain calm.
- Portare rispetto(to show respect)
- Portare avanti (to carry on / to move forward): this phrase is used for advancing or making progress with something, like a project.
- Portare rancore (to hold a grudge)
- Portare con sé (to bring along): this is used when you’re bringing someone or something with you.
