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mandar

mahn-DAHRmanˈdaɾ

to send

Also: to dispatch, to mail
VerbA1regular ar
A cartoon hand dropping a sealed brown package into a bright red mailbox.
infinitivemandar
gerundmandando
past Participlemandado

📝 In Action

Te voy a mandar un correo electrónico con los detalles.

A1

I am going to send you an email with the details.

¿Puedes mandar este paquete por correo urgente?

A2

Can you send this package by urgent mail?

Nos mandaron a casa temprano porque llovía.

A2

They sent us home early because it was raining.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • enviar (to send (often interchangeable))
  • remitir (to forward, to remit)

Common Collocations

  • mandar un mensaje – to send a message
  • mandar saludos – to send greetings

to order, to command

Also: to dictate
VerbB1regular ar
A cartoon figure wearing a simple uniform standing straight and pointing directly forward with one arm, symbolizing giving an order.
infinitivemandar
gerundmandando
past Participlemandado

📝 In Action

El capitán mandó a sus hombres que se retiraran.

B1

The captain ordered his men to retreat.

Mi jefe me mandó terminar el informe antes de las cinco.

B1

My boss ordered me to finish the report before five.

Mandaron construir un nuevo puente sobre el río.

B2

They ordered the construction of a new bridge over the river.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mandar silencio – to demand silence

to rule, to be in charge

Also: to dominate, to wear the pants (idiom)
VerbB2regular ar
A crowned figure sitting on a plain throne and holding a simple wooden scepter, symbolizing ruling a territory.
infinitivemandar
gerundmandando
past Participlemandado

📝 In Action

Ella manda en su casa y nadie la contradice.

B2

She rules (is in charge) in her house and no one contradicts her.

El dictador mandó el país por cuarenta años.

C1

The dictator ruled the country for forty years.

Si quieres mandar, tienes que asumir la responsabilidad.

B2

If you want to be in charge, you have to take responsibility.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • mandar y obedecer – to command and obey

Idioms & Expressions

  • Aquí mando yo. – I am the boss here.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedmanda
yomando
túmandas
ellos/ellas/ustedesmandan
nosotrosmandamos
vosotrosmandáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmandaba
yomandaba
túmandabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesmandaban
nosotrosmandábamos
vosotrosmandabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedmandó
yomandé
túmandaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesmandaron
nosotrosmandamos
vosotrosmandasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedmande
yomande
túmandes
ellos/ellas/ustedesmanden
nosotrosmandemos
vosotrosmandéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmandara
yomandara
túmandaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesmandaran
nosotrosmandáramos
vosotrosmandarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

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✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mandar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'mandar' in the sense of 'to be in charge'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el mando(authority; remote control) — Noun
la mandíbula(jaw (related to commanding/biting)) — Noun
el mandato(mandate, order) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin verb *mandāre*, meaning 'to commit, entrust, or order.' The original sense of entrusting something evolved into both 'sending' (entrusting a package to a messenger) and 'commanding' (entrusting power or authority).

First recorded: Documented in Spanish texts since the 10th century.

Cognates (Related words)

English: mandateFrench: manderPortuguese: mandar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mandar' the same as 'enviar'?

For most everyday uses, like sending an email or a package, 'mandar' and 'enviar' are completely interchangeable. 'Enviar' might sound slightly more formal or be preferred for technical transmissions (like sending a signal).

How do I say 'to send money'?

You can use 'mandar dinero' or 'enviar dinero.' Another very common and specific verb for this action is 'transferir' (to transfer).