manejar
“manejar” means “to drive” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to drive
Also: to pilot
📝 In Action
¿Sabes manejar un carro manual?
A1Do you know how to drive a stick shift car?
Mi papá maneja muy rápido en la carretera.
A2My dad drives very fast on the highway.
Ella estuvo manejando por diez horas seguidas.
B1She was driving for ten hours straight.
to manage, to handle
Also: to operate, to wield
📝 In Action
Ella sabe manejar presupuestos muy grandes.
B1She knows how to manage very large budgets.
Es difícil manejar a un equipo tan diverso.
B2It is difficult to manage such a diverse team.
¿Puedes manejar esta máquina sin problemas?
B1Can you operate this machine without problems?
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: manejar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'manejar' in the sense of 'to manage/control' rather than 'to drive'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Spanish word *mano* (hand), tracing back to the Latin word *manus*. The original idea was literally 'to handle with the hands,' which evolved into controlling or operating things, including vehicles and businesses.
First recorded: 14th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'manejar' and 'conducir'?
'Manejar' is the standard verb for 'to drive' (a car, bus, etc.) throughout nearly all of Latin America. 'Conducir' is the standard and preferred verb for 'to drive' in Spain. Both are correct, but use 'manejar' in the Americas for natural communication.
Does 'manejar' always involve a physical object?
No. While it often means driving a car or operating a machine, it is also used very frequently to mean 'to handle' or 'to manage' abstract things like stress, money, time, or a complex project.