manejo
/maˈnexo/masculine
In Spanish, 'driving' can be expressed as manejo or conducción, referring to the action of operating a motor vehicle.
Meaning: action of operating a motor vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| manejo | /maˈnexo/ | masculine |
| conducción | /konduɡˈθjon/ /konduɡˈsjon/ |
feminine |
Both terms refer to the noun 'driving', describing the operation of a vehicle. While these are nouns, the related verbs used to express 'to drive' are conducir or manejar. You may also encounter the related adjectives tractor, motor or propulsor, which mean 'that drives'.
Which one should you use?
Manejo is a masculine noun, while conducción is a feminine noun. Conducción is the more formal or technical term for the act of driving, often used in legal or official contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, manejo is the preferred term for 'driving' and the verb manejar is commonly used for 'to drive'. In Spain, conducción is more common.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈnexo/
Did you know?
- The word manejo comes from mano, meaning 'hand'. This highlights that in Spanish, 'driving' is conceptually linked to the physical act of handling something with the hands.
- The verb conducir can also mean 'to lead' or 'to guide' people. Therefore, conducción can refer to the act of leading a group or a political movement.
- While you might use conducción to talk about driving a car, the same word is used in Spanish to describe the 'conduction' of heat or electricity through a material.
Examples in context
- El accidente se debió al manejo imprudente.The accident was due to careless driving.This sentence is useful for describing how the manejo of a vehicle can lead to accidents.Tatoeba #12103218 by Masatami, translation #47084 by Zifre
- La conducción descuidada provoca accidentes.Careless driving causes accidents.This sentence shows how conducción can be a cause of accidents.Tatoeba #636833 by Leono, translation #318651 by CK
- Le retiraron el carné de conducir debido a su conducción temeraria.He had his license taken away because of reckless driving.This sentence illustrates the use of conducción in a legal context regarding a driver's license.Tatoeba #1618519 by teskmon, translation #240639 by CK
- Necesito aprender a conducir un automóvil.I need to learn how to drive a car.
- Mi hermano maneja muy bien.My brother drives very well.
- Vamos a conducir por la ciudad esta tarde.We're going to drive around the city this afternoon.
- Me encanta manejar durante los fines de semana.I love driving during the weekends.
- Voy a conducir mi auto hasta la playa.I am going to drive my car to the beach.
- Mi padre conduce un automóvil.My father drives a car.
- Voy a manejar mi carro nuevo.I'm going to drive my new car.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are discussing a driving lesson.
- MaríaDaniel, me gusta mucho tu manejo.Daniel, I really like your driving.
- DanielGracias, María, pero todavía estoy aprendiendo.Thanks, María, but I am still learning.
- MaríaTu manejo es muy suave y seguro.Your driving is very smooth and safe.
- DanielMe alegra que te sientas cómoda.I am glad you feel comfortable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “driving” translations and entries manejo, conducción, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
