Portuguese Phrase
Leva o lixo contigo.
Meaning
A direct, informal command meaning ‘Take the trash with you.’ It is usually said when someone is about to leave a room, house, or office and the speaker wants the garbage to be removed at the same time.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings—at home, among friends, or with coworkers you address informally. It’s appropriate when you want the listener to carry the trash out themselves rather than leaving it for someone else.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Levaolixocontigo
Imperative (2nd person singular)
Leva is the informal affirmative imperative of the verb levar (to take). It is used when speaking to a friend, family member, or anyone you address with 'tu'.
Definite article
o is the masculine singular definite article, matching the noun lixo.
Noun gender
lixo is a masculine singular noun meaning 'trash' or 'garbage'.
Prepositional pronoun contigo
contigo = com + ti (with you). It is only used in informal contexts; the formal equivalent is consigo.
Verb‑pronoun agreement
When using the informal imperative, pair it with the informal pronoun (contigo). Mixing formal and informal forms (e.g., Leve ... contigo) is considered a mistake.
🗨In Conversation
Leva o lixo contigo, por favor.
Take the trash with you, please.
Claro, já levo.
Sure, I’ll take it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Leve o lixo contigo.
Leve is the formal imperative (você) while contigo is informal; the forms don’t match.
Leva o lixo com você.
Mixes informal verb form with the formal pronoun ‘você’. Use ‘contigo’ with ‘leva’ or ‘consigo’ with ‘leve’.
Leva o lixo com ti.
The correct prepositional pronoun is ‘contigo’, not ‘com ti’.
↔Alternatives
Leva o lixo.
Take the trash.
Leva o lixo quando sair.
Take the trash when you leave.
Leve o lixo consigo.
Take the trash with you. (formal)
Não esqueça de levar o lixo.
Don’t forget to take the trash.
Cultural Tip
In Portuguese‑speaking households, taking out the trash is a shared responsibility. Using ‘contigo’ stresses that the speaker expects the listener to handle the task personally. In Brazil this construction is common in informal speech; in Portugal you’ll more often hear the formal version ‘Leve o lixo consigo’ when speaking to strangers or in a professional setting.