Tomar Present Tense in Latin American Spanish

The Present Tense of Tomar is used to describe actions happening in the present moment, for example, Tomo un café. (I’m having a coffee.)

Tomar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the present tense follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Tomar (to take) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Pronoun Conjugation
Yotomo
tomas
Él / Ella / Ustedtoma
Nosotros / Nosotrastomamos
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedestoman

Boost Your Memorization with Audio!

We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Tomar (to take) in the Present Tense to help you learn faster.

Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.

Usage of Tomar in the Present Tense

Tomar generally means to take or to drink, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To drink: This is one of the most common meanings, for example, Yo tomo café todas las mañanas. (I drink coffee every morning.)

To take: It can also mean to take something, for example, Ella toma el autobús al trabajo. (She takes the bus to work.)

To take (medication): It is used when referring to taking medication, for example, Él toma pastillas para la alergia. (He takes pills for his allergy.)

To take (a class or course): It can mean to take a class or course, for example, Nosotros tomamos clases de español. (We take Spanish classes.)

To take (a picture or photo): It can also mean to take a picture or photo, for example, Ellas toman fotos en el parque. (They take pictures in the park.)

To take (a decision or action): It can be used to express taking a decision or action, for example, Ustedes toman la decisión correcta. (You take the right decision.)

Colloquial usage: In some Latin American regions, it can be used colloquially to mean “to understand” or “to get it,” for example, ¿Tomas lo que digo? (Do you get what I’m saying?)

Examples

Examples of Tomar in the Present Tense

Yo tomo café todas las mañanas. (I drink coffee every morning.)

¿Tú tomas el autobús o prefieres caminar? (Do you take the bus or do you prefer to walk?)

Ella toma clases de español los martes y jueves. (She takes Spanish classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)

Nosotros tomamos un descanso después del almuerzo. (We take a break after lunch.)

Ellos toman vacaciones en verano. (They take vacations in the summer.)

¿Tomas vitaminas diariamente? (Do you take vitamins daily?)

Mi hermana toma el sol en la playa. (My sister sunbathes at the beach.)

Nosotros tomamos decisiones importantes juntos. (We make important decisions together.)

Ellos toman en serio su trabajo. (They take their work seriously.)

¿Tomas notas durante la clase? (Do you take notes during class?)

Ella toma un descanso de las redes sociales. (She takes a break from social media.)

Nosotros tomamos un curso de cocina el mes pasado. (We took a cooking course last month.)

Ellos toman medidas para proteger el medio ambiente. (They take measures to protect the environment.)

¿Tomas en cuenta las opiniones de los demás? (Do you take others’ opinions into account?)

Yo tomo un respiro después de un día agitado. (I take a breather after a hectic day.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Tomar (to take) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

Spanish English
Yo tomo I take
Tú tomas You take
Él / Ella / Usted toma He / She / You takes
Nosotros / Nosotras tomamos We take
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes toman They / You all take

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.