administrar
“administrar” means “to manage” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to manage
Also: to run, to govern
📝 In Action
Ella administra una empresa de tecnología.
A2She manages a technology company.
Es difícil administrar un restaurante con poco personal.
B1It is difficult to run a restaurant with few staff.
El director administra los recursos de la escuela.
B2The principal manages the school's resources.
to budget, to organize
Also: to dispense
📝 In Action
Necesito aprender a administrar mejor mi tiempo.
A2I need to learn to manage my time better.
Ella sabe cómo administrar su dinero para viajar mucho.
B1She knows how to manage her money so she can travel a lot.
to administer
Also: to give
📝 In Action
La enfermera le administró la vacuna.
B2The nurse administered the vaccine to him.
El juez debe administrar justicia de manera imparcial.
C1The judge must administer justice in an impartial way.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: administrar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I manage my time well'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'administrare,' which combined 'ad' (to) and 'ministrare' (to serve). It literally meant to serve or help a leader.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'administrar' regular?
Yes, it follows the exact same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in every tense.
Can I use it for 'driving' a car?
No. For driving or handling physical objects, use 'manejar'.
What is the difference between 'administrar' and 'gestionar'?
They are very similar. 'Administrar' often refers to the internal organization of resources, while 'gestionar' often refers to handling processes or external tasks.