Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Mis vecinos no se llevan mal; en realidad se llevan bien. - My neighbors don’t get along badly; in fact, they get along well.

Here, llevarse (bien/mal) is a pronominal verb meaning “to get along (well/badly).” Without the pronoun, llevar means “to carry,” “to wear,” “to take,” or “to lead.” Example: Se llevan bien = They get along well. vs. Llevan abrigos = They are wearing coats.

Why is se used?

Because llevarse is pronominal in the sense “to get along.” With plural subjects, se often has a reciprocal meaning: “with each other.” So no se llevan mal ≈ “they don’t get along badly (with each other).”

Is no se llevan mal the same as no se llevan?

No. In everyday Spanish (Spain), no se llevan usually means “they don’t get along” (negative relationship). No se llevan mal means “they don’t get along badly,” which implies at least an okay relationship—often mildly positive. The sentence then clarifies it’s actually positive: se llevan bien.

Does no se llevan mal automatically mean “they get along well”?

By itself it’s a mild positive or neutral: “they’re not on bad terms.” It can mean “they get along okay.” To state it clearly positive, say se llevan bien or add en realidad se llevan bien, as in the sentence.

Why bien/mal and not bueno/malo?

Bien and mal are adverbs that modify the verb (llevarse), so they’re correct here. Bueno/malo are adjectives; you’d use them to describe nouns (e.g., un buen vecino, un mal acuerdo), not to modify how people get along.

Can I add “with each other” or specify “with someone”?

With each other (optional emphasis): Se llevan bien entre sí.
With a specific person: Se lleva bien con su jefe. / Me llevo bien con mis vecinos.
If no object is given and the subject is plural, se llevan (bien/mal) is understood as “with each other.”

Where can the pronoun go in other forms?

Finite verb: No se llevan mal.
Infinitive: Llevarse bien es importante.
Gerund: Están llevándose bien / Se están llevando bien (both positions are correct).
Note: The progressive is possible but less common for general states; Spanish prefers the simple present: Se llevan bien.

Is the progressive natural here, like se están llevando bien?

It’s grammatically fine, but for ongoing or habitual relationships Spanish normally uses the simple present (se llevan bien). The progressive can sound marked or focus on a temporary phase.

What’s the nuance of en realidad here? Could I use de hecho?

En realidad corrects or contrasts a belief/appearance: “actually/in reality.” De hecho (“in fact/as a matter of fact”) adds a reinforcing detail. In this line, both could work, but en realidad neatly contrasts the first clause. Avoid the false friend actualmente (it means “currently,” not “actually”).

Could the semicolon be a comma?

Yes. Mis vecinos no se llevan mal, en realidad se llevan bien. A semicolon adds a slightly stronger break; a period works too. All are acceptable stylistically.

How is ll pronounced in Spain in llevan/llevarse?

In most of Spain there’s yeísmo: ll and y sound the same, like a voiced “y” (approx. [ʝ]). So llevar sounds like “yeh-VAR.”

What’s the difference between llevarse bien and caer bien?

Llevarse bien/mal (con alguien): the quality of an ongoing relationship or how two people get along together.
Caer bien/mal (a alguien): the (often initial) personal impression someone makes on someone else.
Example: Me cae bien Ana (I like Ana / she gives me a good impression), but No me llevo bien con Ana (Ana and I don’t get along).

Are there intensifiers or set phrases?

Yes:

Very positive: Se llevan muy bien, Se llevan de maravilla, Se llevan a las mil maravillas.
Very negative: Se llevan muy mal, Se llevan fatal.

How do I say it about myself?

Conjugate normally with the reflexive pronoun:

Me llevo bien/mal con mi vecino.
Nos llevamos bien.
¿Os lleváis bien? (Spain, informal plural)

What does llevar (algo) mal/bien (without se) mean?

It means “to handle/cope with something badly/well.” Example: Lleva mal el estrés (He handles stress badly). Don’t confuse this with llevarse bien/mal, which is about getting along with someone.

Can llevarse mean something else like “take away”?

Yes, in other contexts: Se llevaron el premio (They took the prize away). Context and complements (e.g., bien/mal, con) disambiguate the meaning.

Is no ... mal a double negative?

No. No negates the verb, and mal is just the adverb “badly.” It’s a litotes-style phrasing (“not badly”) that softens the statement. It’s common and natural in Spanish.