Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| conducir | /konduˈθiɾ/ /konduˈsiɾ/ |
|
| timonear | /timoneaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| manejar | /maneˈxaɾ/ | Latin America, Philippines |
The primary meaning of these verbs is to operate a wheeled motorized vehicle. While these terms are used for driving, other specific verbs are used for different modes of transport: use pilotar when referring to piloting an aircraft or driving a boat or ship and use timonear specifically for steering a vessel or acting as a helmsman.
Which one should you use?
In Spain, conducir is the standard term for driving a vehicle. In most of Latin America, manejar is the preferred verb for operating a motor vehicle. Although both terms are used in Latin America, conducir is often perceived as more formal than manejar. While conducir and manejar refer to driving, timonear is a nautical term for steering a vessel and is not used for driving a motorized car.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Manejar is commonly used in most Latin American countries and in the Philippines. In Latin America, conducir is also widely understood and used.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/konduˈθiɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Note that conducir can also mean 'to lead' or 'to conduct', such as conducting an orchestra or a group, rather than just driving a car.
Did you know?
- The Latin American preference for manejar comes from the Italian word 'maneggiare', which originally referred to handling or training horses.
- While manejar means 'to drive' in Latin America, in Spain it is used almost exclusively to mean 'to handle' or 'to operate' a tool or a machine.
- In some Latin American contexts, choosing conducir over manejar can make a speaker sound intentionally stiff or overly academic.
Examples in context
- Tom no sabe manejar.Tom doesn't know how to drive.This sentence is useful for saying that someone lacks the ability to drive using manejar.Tatoeba #1841837 by hayastan, translation #1841475 by CK
- No me gusta manejar.I don't like to drive.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal dislike of driving using manejar.Tatoeba #2375717 by hayastan, translation #2276105 by CK
- No sé manejar carro.I don't know how to drive a car.This sentence is useful for stating that someone does not know how to drive a car using manejar.Tatoeba #4335934 by pchamorro, translation #2751061 by sharptoothed
- Me gustaría aprender a conducir un automóvil.I would like to learn how to drive a car.
- Vamos a manejar por la ciudad hoy.We are going to drive around the city today.
- 247 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are deciding how to get to the party.
- María¿Puedes conducir tú hoy?Can you drive today?
- JavierSí, yo puedo conducir.Yes, I can drive.
- MaríaGracias, Javier. Estoy cansada.Thanks, Javier. I am tired.
- JavierNo hay problema, María.No problem, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drive” translations and entries conducir, timonear, manejar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conducir, manejar, timonear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
