Tomar: to take, to drink, to catch
Pronunciation: toh-MAHR (stress the capital letters)
Tomar means “to take, to drink, to catch” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to take, to drink, to catch
- How to say it: toh-MAHR
- Present: yo tomo, tú tomas
- Level: Beginner (A1)
What “tomar” means and how to use it
Tomar means “to take” and, in most of Latin America, “to drink.” It is also used for taking transport, medicine, photos, and notes.
Other translations: to drink, to catch (a bus), to take (a photo).
How to conjugate “tomar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | tomo | I |
| tú | tomas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | toma | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | tomamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | toman | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo tomé, él tomó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | tomado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Tomo café por la mañana.I drink coffee in the morning.
- Tomamos el autobús al centro.We take the bus downtown.
- Voy a tomar una foto.I am going to take a photo.
Usage tip
In Spain, tomar is also common for “to have food or drinks” (¿Qué tomas?). “Tomar una clase” (to take a class) is common in Latin America, and “hacer un curso” is the usual choice in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to take, to drink, to catch” in Spanish?
“to take, to drink, to catch” in Spanish is “tomar.” It is pronounced toh-MAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “tomar”?
Say toh-MAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “tomar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “tomé” and “él” is “tomó.” The past participle is “tomado.”
Practice “tomar” for free
Reading helps, but practice makes it stick. Try short exercises with instant feedback.
Related words
More: words with several meanings · Spanish glossary · Lessons