maneja
/mah-NEH-hah/
drives
This image of someone driving a car illustrates the meaning of maneja as "drives."
maneja(verb)
drives
?He/She/You formal drives (a vehicle)
,handles
?He/She/You formal handles (a vehicle)
operates
?a machine
📝 In Action
Mi padre maneja un camión muy grande.
A1My father drives a very big truck.
¿Usted maneja por la ciudad o prefiere el metro?
A2Do you (formal) drive through the city or prefer the subway?
Ella maneja con mucha precaución, es muy segura.
B1She drives with a lot of caution; she is very safe.
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of 'Maneja'
'Maneja' has two main uses: it describes what a single person (He/She/You formal) is doing right now, OR it serves as a polite command ('You formal, drive!').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Maneja' for 'I drive'
Mistake: "Yo maneja"
Correction: The correct form for 'I' is 'Yo manejo'. Remember that -ar verbs always end in -o for the 'I' form.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Differences in Driving
In Spain, 'conducir' is often preferred for 'to drive,' while in most of Latin America, 'manejar' is the standard word.
The act of directing and organizing people or tasks, as shown here, represents the meaning of maneja as "manages."
maneja(verb)
manages
?He/She/You formal manages (a team, a project)
,handles
?He/She/You formal handles (a difficult situation)
runs
?a department
,deals with
?a problem
📝 In Action
Nuestra jefa maneja el presupuesto con mucha cautela.
B1Our boss manages the budget very carefully.
Cuando hay un conflicto, él lo maneja de forma diplomática.
B2When there is a conflict, he handles it diplomatically.
La nueva aplicación maneja grandes cantidades de datos.
C1The new application handles large amounts of data.
💡 Grammar Points
Control and Skill
When 'maneja' is used this way, it often implies that the person or system has control, skill, or expertise over the situation or resource.
⭐ Usage Tips
Choosing the Right Verb
Use 'maneja' when the action involves control, direction, or skillful use. Use 'gestiona' (manages/processes) when the action is more administrative or procedural.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: maneja
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'maneja' in the sense of 'managing a task' rather than 'driving a vehicle'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'maneja' a command or a statement?
'Maneja' can be both! It is the present tense statement for 'He/She/You formal drives/manages' (e.g., 'Ella maneja'). It is also the informal command for 'Drive!' or 'Handle it!' (e.g., '¡Maneja con cuidado!').
How do I know if 'maneja' means 'drive' or 'manage'?
The context is key. If the object of the verb is a vehicle (coche, camión, moto), it means 'drive.' If the object is an abstract thing (dinero, proyecto, situación), it means 'manage' or 'handle.'