gobernar
“gobernar” means “to govern” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to govern
Also: to rule, to run
📝 In Action
El presidente gobierna el país con mucha calma.
A2The president governs the country with a lot of calm.
Es difícil gobernar una empresa tan grande.
B1It is difficult to run such a large company.
Ella gobierna su casa con mano de hierro.
B2She rules her house with an iron fist.
to steer
📝 In Action
El capitán gobierna el timón con firmeza.
B2The captain steers the helm with firmness.
Es difícil gobernar el barco durante la tormenta.
C1It is difficult to steer the ship during the storm.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: gobernar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct 'yo' form of gobernar in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'gubernare', which was a nautical term meaning 'to direct a ship' or 'to steer'.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is gobernar a regular verb?
Not quite. It is regular in its endings (-ar), but it is irregular because the 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms.
Can I use 'gobernar' instead of 'conducir' for a car?
No. Use 'conducir' or 'manejar' for cars. 'Gobernar' is reserved for boats (steering) or people/organizations (governing).
What's the difference between 'mandar' and 'gobernar'?
'Mandar' often implies giving specific orders or being bossy, while 'gobernar' implies the broader act of leading or administering a system.