Inklingo

How to Say "operates" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “operates” is “funciona” — use 'funciona' when referring to a machine, system, or device that is working or performing its intended task..

English → Spanish
Verb (Conjugated Form)A2General
Use 'funciona' when referring to a machine, system, or device that is working or performing its intended task.

Examples

Es necesario que el sistema funcione correctamente.

It is necessary that the system works correctly.

maneja

mah-NEH-hah/maˈne.xa/

VerbA1General
Use 'maneja' when a person is actively driving, controlling, or operating a vehicle or machine.
A person sitting happily in the driver's seat of a bright red car, holding the steering wheel and looking forward, illustrating the action of driving.

Examples

Mi padre maneja un camión muy grande.

My father drives a very big truck.

¿Usted maneja por la ciudad o prefiere el metro?

Do you (formal) drive through the city or prefer the subway?

Ella maneja con mucha precaución, es muy segura.

She drives with a lot of caution; she is very safe.

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!').

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.

Funciona vs. Maneja

Learners often confuse 'funciona' and 'maneja' by using 'funciona' when a person is in control of a machine. Remember, 'funciona' describes the machine's state of working, while 'maneja' describes the person's action of operating it.

Related Translations

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