How to Say "to manage" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to manage” is “administrar” — use 'administrar' when referring to the overall running of a business, organization, or household, often involving financial oversight.
administrar
ad-mee-nees-TRARadminisˈtɾaɾ
Examples
Ella administra una empresa de tecnología.
She manages a technology company.
Es difícil administrar un restaurante con poco personal.
It is difficult to run a restaurant with few staff.
El director administra los recursos de la escuela.
The principal manages the school's resources.
It's a regular -ar verb
This word follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar, so once you know the basics, you can conjugate it easily in all time frames.
Using the 'special' form
When you want someone else to manage something, like saying 'I want you to manage this,' use the subjunctive form: 'Quiero que administres esto.'
Using 'manejar' for business
Mistake: “Yo manejo el negocio familiar.”
Correction: Yo administro el negocio familiar. While 'manejar' is used for driving or handling objects, 'administrar' is better for professional management.
gestionar
hes-tyo-NARxes.tjo.ˈnaɾ
Examples
Ella gestiona un equipo de veinte personas con mucho éxito.
She manages a team of twenty people very successfully.
Es difícil gestionar una empresa durante una crisis.
It is difficult to manage a company during a crisis.
Aprendimos a gestionar los recursos de forma eficiente.
We learned to manage resources efficiently.
No es fácil gestionar el estrés en el trabajo.
It's not easy to manage stress at work.
A Regular Friend
This verb follows the standard 'ar' pattern perfectly. If you can conjugate 'hablar,' you can conjugate 'gestionar'!
Who are you managing?
If you are managing a person or a group of people, remember to use the 'personal a' (e.g., 'Gestiono a mis empleados').
Internal Objects
When used for emotions, the object (the emotion) usually doesn't need an article if you are talking about the general concept (e.g., 'gestionar miedo' vs 'gestionar el miedo').
Managing to vs. Managing
Mistake: “Gestioné terminar mi tarea.”
Correction: Logré terminar mi tarea.
manejar
mah-neh-HAHRma.neˈxaɾ
Examples
Ella sabe manejar presupuestos muy grandes.
She knows how to manage very large budgets.
Es difícil manejar a un equipo tan diverso.
It is difficult to manage such a diverse team.
¿Puedes manejar esta máquina sin problemas?
Can you operate this machine without problems?
Using 'Manejar' for Skills
Use 'saber + manejar' to talk about having the skill to operate something (like software or equipment): 'Yo sé manejar Excel' (I know how to use/operate Excel).
dirigir
dee-ree-HEERdi.ɾiˈxiɾ
Examples
Ella dirige la orquesta sinfónica de la ciudad.
She directs the city's symphony orchestra.
Mi jefe dirige el departamento de marketing.
My boss manages the marketing department.
El presidente dirigió un mensaje a la nación anoche.
The president addressed a message to the nation last night.
The 'g' to 'j' Change
In the 'yo' form of the present tense, the spelling changes from 'dirigir' to 'dirijo'. This is only to keep the hard 'H' sound (like the Spanish 'j') that you hear in the infinitive.
Forgetting the spelling change
Mistake: “Yo dirigo.”
Correction: Yo dirijo. Remember the 'j' sound is crucial for the first-person present tense.
coordinar
ko-or-dee-narkooɾðiˈnaɾ
Examples
Ella coordina las reuniones del equipo cada lunes.
She coordinates the team meetings every Monday.
Es difícil coordinar a tantos voluntarios sin un plan.
It is difficult to coordinate so many volunteers without a plan.
Necesitamos coordinar nuestros esfuerzos para tener éxito.
We need to coordinate our efforts to be successful.
Using 'con'
When you want to say you are coordinating 'with' someone, use the word 'con': 'Coordino con mi jefe' (I coordinate with my boss).
Direct Action
This verb is used directly with the thing you are organizing: 'Coordinar el evento' (To coordinate the event).
Coordinar vs. Ordenar
Mistake: “Voy a coordinar mis libros en la estantería.”
Correction: Voy a ordenar mis libros en la estantería. Use 'ordenar' for tidying physical objects and 'coordinar' for managing people, tasks, or complex systems.
lograr
loh-GRARloˈɣɾaɾ
Examples
Logró terminar la maratón a pesar de la lluvia.
He managed to finish the marathon despite the rain.
Siempre he querido lograr la paz interior.
I have always wanted to achieve inner peace.
Si trabajamos juntos, lograremos nuestros objetivos.
If we work together, we will achieve our goals.
Using 'Lograr' with Actions
When you want to say you succeeded in doing something, you usually follow 'lograr' directly with the action verb in its base form (infinitive), without needing a preposition like 'a' or 'de'. Example: 'Logré correr' (I succeeded in running).
Lograr vs. Tener Éxito
'Lograr' focuses on the successful completion of a specific task or goal. 'Tener éxito' is a broader phrase meaning 'to be successful' in general, often over a long period.
Using 'en' after Lograr
Mistake: “Logré en terminar el proyecto.”
Correction: Logré terminar el proyecto. ('Lograr' usually doesn't need 'en' when followed by an action.)
Administrar vs. Gestionar
Related Translations
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