regir
“regir” means “to rule” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to rule, to govern
Also: to lead
📝 In Action
El consejo rige los destinos de la empresa.
B2The council rules the company's destiny.
La Constitución rige la vida política del país.
C1The Constitution governs the political life of the country.
Es difícil regir una nación en tiempos de crisis.
B2It is difficult to govern a nation in times of crisis.
to be in force, to apply
Also: to prevail
📝 In Action
Estas leyes ya no rigen en este país.
B2These laws are no longer in force in this country.
Las normas que rigen el juego son muy claras.
B2The rules that apply to the game are very clear.
El horario de invierno rige a partir de mañana.
B2The winter schedule takes effect starting tomorrow.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: regir
Question 1 of 3
Which form is the correct 'yo' form in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin verb 'regere', meaning to lead, keep straight, or guide.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'regir' the same as 'gobernar'?
Mostly, yes. However, 'regir' is more formal and can also mean 'to be in effect' (like a law), whereas 'gobernar' is specifically about political leadership.
Why does the 'g' change to a 'j'?
In Spanish, a 'g' followed by 'o' or 'a' sounds hard (like 'goat'). To keep the soft raspy sound of the infinitive 'regir', we switch it to a 'j' (rijo, rija).
Can I use 'regir' for driving a car?
No. For driving or steering a vehicle, use 'conducir' or 'manejar'.