mandar
“mandar” means “to send” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to sendAlso: to dispatch, to mail
📝 In Action
Te voy a mandar un correo electrónico con los detalles.
A1I am going to send you an email with the details.
¿Puedes mandar este paquete por correo urgente?
A2Can you send this package by urgent mail?
Nos mandaron a casa temprano porque llovía.
A2They sent us home early because it was raining.
Word Connections
to order, to commandAlso: to dictate
📝 In Action
El capitán mandó a sus hombres que se retiraran.
B1The captain ordered his men to retreat.
Mi jefe me mandó terminar el informe antes de las cinco.
B1My boss ordered me to finish the report before five.
Mandaron construir un nuevo puente sobre el río.
B2They ordered the construction of a new bridge over the river.
Word Connections
to rule, to be in chargeAlso: to dominate, to wear the pants (idiom)
📝 In Action
Ella manda en su casa y nadie la contradice.
B2She rules (is in charge) in her house and no one contradicts her.
El dictador mandó el país por cuarenta años.
C1The dictator ruled the country for forty years.
Si quieres mandar, tienes que asumir la responsabilidad.
B2If you want to be in charge, you have to take responsibility.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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Words that translate to "mandar" in Spanish:
✏️ 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
📚 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)
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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).