How to Say "led" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “led” is “dirigido” — use 'dirigido' when 'led' refers to the act of actively managing, guiding, or leading a group or organization.
dirigido
dee-ree-HEE-dohdiɾiˈxiðo
Examples
Él ha dirigido este proyecto desde su inicio.
He has led this project since its inception.
He dirigido esta empresa por diez años.
I have managed this company for ten years.
La película fue dirigida por Pedro Almodóvar.
The movie was directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
Describing Actions Done
When you use 'dirigido' with the verb 'ser' (to be), you are describing who performed the action. For example: 'Fue dirigido por él' means 'It was directed by him'.
The 'G' to 'J' Spelling Change
The root verb 'dirigir' changes its 'g' to a 'j' when followed by an 'o' or an 'a' to keep the sound consistent. This happens in the 'yo' form and the 'subjunctive' (the wish/mood form).
guiado
ghee-AH-dohɡjˈaðo
Examples
Hicimos una caminata guiada por el bosque.
We took a guided walk through the forest.
Mañana haremos una visita guiada por el centro histórico.
Tomorrow we will do a guided tour of the historic center.
Esta es una meditación guiada para principiantes.
This is a guided meditation for beginners.
El proyectil es guiado por un sistema láser.
The missile is guided by a laser system.
Matching the Noun
Since this acts as a description word, it must match what it describes. Use 'guiado' for masculine nouns (un tour guiado) and 'guiada' for feminine nouns (una visita guiada).
Placement
In Spanish, this descriptive word almost always comes AFTER the thing it is describing, unlike in English where we say 'guided tour'.
The 'O' Trap
Mistake: “una visita guiado”
Correction: una visita guiada. Even if the guide is a man, the word must match 'visita', which is feminine.
Dirigido vs. Guiado
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