What is the present subjunctive of traer in Spanish?

The present subjunctive of traer is: traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan. Derived from the irregular yo form traigo. The -ig- stem stays in every form.

Why does traer have the -ig- group in the subjunctive?

The -ig- is inserted in the yo form traigo (instead of just trao) and carries through to all subjunctive forms via the yo-form-derivation rule. The same pattern appears in caer (caigo → caiga) and oír (oigo → oiga).

How is subjunctive traer different from llevar's subjunctive?

Both translate as to bring or to take, but traer = bring TOWARD the speaker (que traigas el libro = bring the book here), while llevar = take AWAY from the speaker (que lleves el libro = take the book away). Same subjunctive rules; different direction.

When do I use traiga as a command?

Traiga is the usted command (bring this!); traigan is the ustedes command. For tú, the affirmative command is irregular (trae), and the negative command uses the subjunctive (no traigas).

How can I learn subjunctive traer naturally?

Subjunctive traer appears constantly in requests and invitations: bring the umbrella, bring dessert, bring your camera. Parrot's short-form videos surface these everyday contexts, so traiga / traigas / traigamos become automatic.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Subjunctive of Traer: All Forms with Examples

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Traer's present subjunctive comes from the yo form traigo: traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan. The -ig- stem carries through every form. Used after standard subjunctive triggers.

Quiero que traigas el libro.

I want you to bring the book.

What it is

Traer's present subjunctive derives from the irregular yo form traigo: traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan. The -ig- stem (from traigo) carries through every form. The pattern is the same as caer (caiga), oír (oiga), and salir (salga, with -lg- instead of -ig-).

In Quiero que traigas el libro (I want you to bring the book), traigas is the tú subjunctive of traer. The wish trigger forces the mood shift.

How to spot it

Look for traig- followed by -a endings: traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan. The -ig- group is the giveaway.

Espero que traigas pastel. — I hope you bring cake.
Dudo que traigan suficiente comida. — I doubt they'll bring enough food.
Es importante que traigamos los documentos. — It's important we bring the documents.

Traer's subjunctive appears in requests, invitations, and recommendations about bringing things.

Subjunctive of Traer Quick Reference

Present subjunctive of traer, all six forms

Person	Form	Translation
yo	traiga	(that) I bring
tú	traigas	(that) you bring
él/ella/Ud.	traiga	(that) he, she, you (formal) bring
nosotros	traigamos	(that) we bring
vosotros	traigáis	(that) you all bring (Spain)
ellos/Uds.	traigan	(that) they, you all bring

Common Subjunctive of Traer Examples in Spanish

Subjunctive traer shows up in requests, recommendations, and doubts about bringing things to events, meetings, or destinations.

Wishes and Requests

Quiero que traigas tu cámara.: I want you to bring your camera.
Espero que traigan postre.: I hope they bring dessert.
Te pido que traigas el contrato.: I'm asking you to bring the contract.
Quiere que traigamos los regalos.: She wants us to bring the gifts.
Esperan que traiga la respuesta.: They hope he brings the answer.

Requests for someone to bring something are one of the most common contexts for subjunctive traer.

Doubt About Deliveries

Dudo que traigan los muebles hoy.: I doubt they'll deliver the furniture today.
No creo que traiga la documentación.: I don't think he'll bring the documentation.
Es posible que traigas malas noticias.: You might bring bad news.
Puede que traigamos algo más tarde.: We might bring something later.
Quizás traigan refuerzos.: Maybe they'll bring reinforcements.

Doubt about whether things or people will be brought takes the subjunctive of traer.

Recommendations and Commands

Te recomiendo que traigas un paraguas.: I recommend you bring an umbrella.
Sugiero que traigamos comida ligera.: I suggest we bring light food.
Le aconseja que traiga su mejor ropa.: She advises him to bring his best clothes.
No traigas dinero en efectivo.: Don't bring cash.
Que traigan lo necesario.: Have them bring what's needed.

Recommendations and commands about bringing items use the subjunctive of traer. Negative tú commands also use this form.

Impersonal Triggers

Es importante que traigas identificación.: It's important you bring ID.
Es necesario que traigamos el informe.: It's necessary we bring the report.
Es mejor que traiga su propio almuerzo.: It's better he bring his own lunch.
Es raro que traigan tantos regalos.: It's odd they're bringing so many gifts.
Es triste que no traigan nada.: It's sad they're not bringing anything.

Impersonal expressions about what should or shouldn't be brought trigger the subjunctive of traer.

How to Form the Subjunctive of Traer

Derive from the Yo Form Traigo

Traer's subjunctive uses yo form minus -o plus -a endings. Traigo → traig- → traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan. The -ig- group is preserved in all six forms.

traer → traigo → traig- → traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan.

Yo form minus -o, plus -a endings.

Same pattern as caer (caiga) and oír (oiga), all with -ig- group.

-ig- Stem Throughout

Unlike the present indicative (where traemos / traéis don't have -ig-), the subjunctive keeps the -ig- stem in nosotros (traigamos) and vosotros (traigáis). Consistent traig- throughout.

Pres. ind.: traemos. Pres. subj.: traigamos.

Subjunctive: -ig- in all six forms.

Subjunctive: traig- everywhere. Indicative: trae- mostly, traigo only in yo.

Same Yo and Él/Ella Forms

Like all subjunctive conjugations, yo and él/ella forms are identical: traiga. Use pronouns to disambiguate.

Espero que (yo) traiga. Espero que (él) traiga.

Pronouns when needed.

yo and él/ella always share the form.

Same Triggers as All Subjunctives

Subjunctive traer responds to all standard W.E.I.R.D.O. triggers. The trigger + que + subjunctive form.

Quiero que. Es importante que. Te recomiendo que.

Same triggers across all verbs.

Trigger + que = subjunctive.

Common Mistakes with Subjunctive of Traer

Incorrect: Quiero que traes el libro. — I want you to bring the book. (wrong, indicative after querer que)

Correct: Quiero que traigas el libro. — I want you to bring the book.

After querer que, the dependent verb must be in the subjunctive. Traes is the indicative; traigas is the tú subjunctive form derived from yo traigo.

Incorrect: Es importante que traemos las llaves. — It's important we bring the keys. (wrong, indicative nosotros)

Correct: Es importante que traigamos las llaves. — It's important we bring the keys.

After es importante que, the nosotros form must be subjunctive (traigamos), not indicative (traemos). The -ig- stays in all subjunctive forms.

Incorrect: Sé que traiga buenas noticias. — I know he's bringing good news. (wrong, fact assertion takes indicative)

Correct: Sé que trae buenas noticias. — I know he's bringing good news.

Saber que asserts a fact and takes the indicative (trae), not the subjunctive (traiga). Only triggers expressing doubt, wish, or opinion force the subjunctive.

Subjunctive of Traer FAQs

What is the present subjunctive of traer in Spanish?: The present subjunctive of traer is: traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan. Derived from the irregular yo form traigo. The -ig- stem stays in every form.
Why does traer have the -ig- group in the subjunctive?: The -ig- is inserted in the yo form traigo (instead of just trao) and carries through to all subjunctive forms via the yo-form-derivation rule. The same pattern appears in caer (caigo → caiga) and oír (oigo → oiga).
How is subjunctive traer different from llevar's subjunctive?: Both translate as to bring or to take, but traer = bring TOWARD the speaker (que traigas el libro = bring the book here), while llevar = take AWAY from the speaker (que lleves el libro = take the book away). Same subjunctive rules; different direction.
When do I use traiga as a command?: Traiga is the usted command (bring this!); traigan is the ustedes command. For tú, the affirmative command is irregular (trae), and the negative command uses the subjunctive (no traigas).
How can I learn subjunctive traer naturally?: Subjunctive traer appears constantly in requests and invitations: bring the umbrella, bring dessert, bring your camera. Parrot's short-form videos surface these everyday contexts, so traiga / traigas / traigamos become automatic.