conduce
/konduθe/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'drives' is translated into Spanish as conduce.
The phrase is used to describe the act of operating a motor vehicle to move from one place to another. You should use the verb pilotar if you are referring to piloting specific vehicles such as airplanes or boats.
Which one should you use?
While conduce is the standard term, the word maneja is very common in Latin America to mean 'drives'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, the term maneja is frequently used instead of conduce.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb is conducir. The first-person singular present indicative ('I drive') is conduzco, and the preterite past tense form ('I drove') is conduje. For the third-person singular present tense ('He drives'), use él conduce.
How do you pronounce it?
/konduθe/
Did you know?
- The word conducir shares a root with the English word 'conduct', referring to the act of leading or directing something.
- In Spanish, the word conducción refers to both the act of driving and the electrical conduction of heat or electricity.
- While maneja means 'drives' in Latin America, in Spain it is almost exclusively used to mean 'handles' or 'operates' a tool or a situation.
Examples in context
- Ella conduce un BMW.She drives a Beemer.This sentence is useful for showing the use of conduce with a specific car brand.Tatoeba #1354726 by marcelostockle, translation #1354291 by CH
- Él conduce un camión.He drives a truck.This sentence is useful for showing the use of conduce with a truck.Tatoeba #4753181 by DarkHollow, translation #1525642 by CK
- Tom conduce un Toyota.Tom drives a Toyota.Tatoeba #1296900 by marcelostockle, translation #1094210 by CN
- Él conduce un automóvilHe drives a car
- Ella maneja un camiónShe drives a truck
- Yo conduzco muy rápidoI drive very fast
- Él maneja como un locoHe drives like a crazy person
- Ella pilota un aviónShe pilots a plane
- manejar una motocicletaDrive a motorcycle
- manejar una bicicletaRide a bike
- manejar un camiónDrive a truck
- Me pongo al volante y vamosI get behind the wheel, and let's go
- 26 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are talking about who will take the car to the party.
- María¿Quién conduce hoy?Who drives today?
- DanielYo conduzco, no te preocupes.I drive, don't worry.
- MaríaGracias, Daniel.Thank you, Daniel.
- DanielDe nada, María.You're welcome, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
