I’m Taking in Spanish | Correct Uses Explained

Most often, you’ll say “Estoy tomando…”, then switch to “Estoy llevando…” or “Estoy tomando clases…” when the meaning changes.

You’re trying to say “I’m taking” in Spanish, and Spanish keeps asking a blunt question: taking what? In English, “take” can mean drink, grab, carry, attend, ride, photograph, accept, and more. Spanish still expresses all of that, just with different verbs that match the real action.

This is the part that trips people up: translating “take” word-for-word. Once you stop chasing the English verb and start naming the action, your Spanish stops sounding like a puzzle and starts sounding normal.

Below you’ll get a clean pick for each meaning, plus the grammar bits that make your sentence smooth: progressive (“right now”), simple present (“as a habit”), and “going to” (“soon”).

I’m Taking in Spanish: Pick The Verb By Meaning

If you only remember one rule, make it this: Spanish picks the verb by what you’re doing, not by the English word.

• Drinking or consuming:Estoy tomando (coffee, water, medicine, vitamins).
• Carrying or bringing somewhere:Estoy llevando (a bag, a passport, food to a party).
• Attending a class or course:Estoy tomando clases / Estoy cursando.
• Using transport:Estoy tomando (a bus, a train, a taxi).
• Choosing an option or a direction:Voy a tomar (a turn, a decision, a break).

Now let’s lock each meaning in with examples you can reuse.

When “I’m taking” Means Drinking Or Taking Medicine

For drinks, pills, supplements, and “consume it” situations, tomar is the default in many regions. If you’re describing something in progress, Spanish uses estar + gerundio (the progressive form).

• I’m taking coffee:Estoy tomando café.
• I’m taking this medicine:Estoy tomando este medicamento.
• I’m taking vitamins:Estoy tomando vitaminas.

For a routine, use the simple present: Tomo café por la mañana. For something you’ll do soon, use ir a: Voy a tomar una pastilla.

The RAE’s dictionary entry for tomar includes senses tied to drinking and consuming, which matches how people use it day to day. RAE DLE: “tomar”

When “beber” fits better

Beber is the plain “to drink.” It’s always correct for liquids. Still, when you’re ordering or chatting, tomar often sounds more natural.

• ¿Qué vas a tomar? (What are you having?)
• Voy a beber agua. (I’m going to drink water.)

If you’re unsure, tomar is a safe default for “having” a drink.

When “I’m taking” Means Bringing Or Carrying Something

If “taking” means you’re moving an item with you, Spanish usually wants llevar. Think “I’m taking it with me” or “I’m taking it to a place.”

• I’m taking my bag:Estoy llevando mi bolso.
• I’m taking food to the party:Estoy llevando comida a la fiesta.
• I’m taking my passport with me:Estoy llevando mi pasaporte.

That “carry/take (to a place)” meaning is right in the RAE entry for llevar. RAE DLE: “llevar”

How “llevar” and “traer” split the direction

English “take” can point in either direction. Spanish often splits it by viewpoint.

• llevar: you move it away from where you are.
• traer: you bring it toward where you are.

So “I’m taking this to your house” is often Lo estoy llevando a tu casa. If you’re speaking from the destination side, you’ll often hear Te lo traigo.

When “I’m taking” Means Attending A Class

For courses and lessons, Spanish often uses tomar in the “take a class” sense, plus other options that sound more academic depending on where you are.

• I’m taking Spanish classes:Estoy tomando clases de español.
• I’m taking a course:Estoy tomando un curso.
• More school-like wording:Estoy cursando un curso de español.

If you’re in a university setting, cursar can feel like the clean “enrolled in and taking.” If you’re chatting with friends, tomar clases keeps it simple.

When “I’m taking” Means Using A Bus, Train, Or Taxi

For transport, many speakers use tomar again. You take a bus the same way you take a coffee: it’s the verb that comes out naturally.

• I’m taking the bus:Estoy tomando el autobús.
• I’m taking the train:Estoy tomando el tren.
• I’m taking a taxi:Estoy tomando un taxi.

In Spain, you’ll also hear coger for transport. In parts of Latin America, coger can sound sexual, so learners often stick with tomar to avoid awkward moments. FundéuRAE has a clear note on when coger is better avoided and when tomar is a practical swap. FundéuRAE: “tomar / coger”

When “I’m taking” Means Photos, Notes, Or Calls

Once “take” becomes “capture” or “record,” Spanish often shifts to fixed phrases. You’ll see tomar and sacar show up a lot, plus different verbs for phone calls.

• I’m taking a photo:Estoy sacando una foto / Estoy tomando una foto.
• I’m taking notes:Estoy tomando notas.
• I’m taking a call:Estoy atendiendo una llamada / Estoy contestando una llamada.

Tomar notas is standard. For photos, sacar is common in many places. For calls, atender and contestar usually sound more natural than forcing “take.”

When “I’m taking” Means Responsibility, Charge, Or Steps

English “take” also means “accept” or “assume.” Spanish often uses asumir, aceptar, or a phrase like hacerse cargo.

• I’m taking responsibility:Estoy asumiendo la responsabilidad.
• I’m taking charge:Me estoy haciendo cargo.
• I’m taking steps:Estoy tomando medidas.

Tomar medidas is a set phrase you’ll hear in daily speech and in news writing. It’s a good one to keep in your pocket.

Table 1 (placed after substantial content; broad and in-depth; 10 rows; 3 columns)

Common Meanings Of “I’m taking” With Natural Spanish Matches

Use the meaning column first. Then lift the Spanish line and swap the object.

Meaning In English	Natural Spanish	Typical Context
Drinking/consuming	Estoy tomando…	Coffee, water, medicine, vitamins
Carrying/bringing	Estoy llevando…	Bag, laptop, passport, food to an event
Attending classes	Estoy tomando clases… / Estoy cursando…	Courses, lessons, school terms
Using transport	Estoy tomando…	Bus, train, taxi, metro
Taking a turn	Voy a tomar…	Turns, exits, left/right directions
Taking a photo	Estoy sacando una foto / Estoy tomando una foto	Phone or camera pictures
Taking notes	Estoy tomando notas	Meetings, class, reading
Taking a call	Estoy atendiendo/contestando una llamada	Phone rings, work calls
Taking responsibility	Estoy asumiendo…	Fault, duties, obligations
Taking steps	Estoy tomando medidas	Fixes, prevention steps, action plans

How To Make The Sentence Flow: Pronouns And Word Order

Once you pick the right verb, the next hurdle is “it,” “them,” and “this.” Spanish uses object pronouns, and with the progressive you get two natural placements.

• Before the conjugated verb:Lo estoy tomando. (I’m taking it.)
• Attached to the gerund:Estoy tomándolo.

Both are standard. Many learners stick with the first pattern because it’s easy to spot and hard to mess up.

Mini cheat sheet for “lo, la, los, las”

• lo = it (masculine object)
• la = it (feminine object)
• los / las = them

If you’re taking the bag: La estoy llevando. If you’re taking the documents: Los estoy llevando.

Why “estar + gerundio” Works For “I’m taking” Right Now

English leans on “I’m taking” for actions in progress. Spanish often uses estar + gerundio for that same “in progress” feel. The RAE’s grammar section describes this progressive periphrasis with estar and explains how it frames an action as ongoing. RAE Grammar: “estar + gerundio”

One practical note: Spanish doesn’t use the progressive as often as English in some contexts. If you sound stiff with constant estoy + -ando/-iendo, switching to the simple present can sound more natural.

• English: I’m taking the metro every day.
• Spanish often:Tomo el metro todos los días.

Tricky English Lines Where Spanish Splits The Idea

Some “I’m taking…” lines hide a second meaning. Here’s how to dodge the classic mix-ups.

“I’m taking my friend home”

This is movement with a person, so llevar is common: Estoy llevando a mi amigo a casa. If you mean you’re giving them a ride and the plan is immediate, Lo llevo a casa can sound normal too.

“I’m taking my time”

Spanish often uses a reflexive form: Me estoy tomando mi tiempo. Another common option is Me lo estoy tomando con calma when you mean “no rush.”

“I’m taking the day off”

A natural phrasing is Me estoy tomando el día libre or Me voy a tomar el día libre. English “take” becomes “I’m giving myself a day off.” Spanish says that out loud.

“I’m taking a shower”

Spanish uses a different verb because the action is “to shower”: Me estoy duchando. You’ll also hear Me estoy dando una ducha.

Practice Lines That Sound Natural In Real Life

Say these once out loud, then swap the noun. That small repetition is what makes the pattern stick.

Table 2 (placed later; 8 rows; 3 columns)

Reusable Practice Set For Common Situations

Each line matches a different meaning of “take,” so you can train your brain to pick the verb automatically.

What You Mean	Spanish You Can Say	English Check
Drink coffee now	Estoy tomando café.	I’m having coffee.
Take medicine now	Estoy tomando este medicamento.	I’m taking this medicine.
Bring my laptop	Estoy llevando mi portátil.	I’m taking my laptop with me.
Take Spanish classes	Estoy tomando clases de español.	I’m taking Spanish classes.
Catch the train	Estoy tomando el tren.	I’m taking the train.
Take a photo	Estoy sacando una foto.	I’m taking a photo.
Take notes	Estoy tomando notas.	I’m taking notes.
Take responsibility	Estoy asumiendo la responsabilidad.	I’m taking responsibility.

Mistakes That Make “take” Sound Translated

These slips don’t make your sentence wrong, but they can make it feel like English in a Spanish costume.

• Using tomar for everything: it works in many cases, but “carry” often wants llevar.
• Missing the personal “a” with people:Estoy llevando a mi amigo… needs that a.
• Forgetting direction: if the item is coming toward you, traer often fits better than llevar.
• Repeating the noun every time: pronouns can make the sentence cleaner: Lo estoy tomando, La estoy llevando.

Self-check Before You Say It

Run this short checklist and you’ll pick the right verb without second-guessing.

• Am I consuming something? If yes, tomar is likely right.
• Am I moving an object to a place? If yes, llevar is likely right.
• Am I talking about a class? tomar clases or cursar fits.
• Am I talking about a ride? tomar plus the transport often fits.
• Am I talking about photos or notes? sacar for photos, tomar for notes.

Once you match the meaning, the Spanish falls into place. After a few real uses, you’ll stop translating “take” at all. You’ll just say what you mean.