quiero manejar
/kjeɾo manexaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I want to drive" is expressed in Spanish as quiero manejar.
This phrase expresses a desire to operate a motor vehicle.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quiero (I want) and manejar (to drive/to handle).
Which one should you use?
Another common way to say 'I want to drive' is quiero conducir.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the verb manejar is often used to convey 'to drive'. In Spain, conducir is the standard verb used for driving a vehicle, whereas manejar is more common in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because quiero is the first-person singular conjugation of querer, you do not need to add a pronoun like yo unless you want to add specific emphasis.
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo manexaɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word manejar is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'manage'. Both come from the Latin root for 'hand', reflecting a time when 'managing' something meant handling it physically.
- In some Latin American countries, manejar can be used figuratively to mean 'to manipulate' or 'to control' a person or a situation.
- In Spain, if you use manejar to describe your driving skills, people might think you are talking about your ability to steer a horse, as the term historically applied to equestrianism.
Examples in context
- Quiero manejar.I want to drive.This sentence is useful for expressing the phrase quiero manejar.Tatoeba #3767607 by cueyayotl, translation #258396 by CK
- Deseo conducir para llegar a mi destino.I want to drive to get to my destination.
- Quiero conducir, por favor. Es urgente.I want to drive, please. It is urgent.
- Quiero manejar hasta la playa este fin de semana.I want to drive to the beach this weekend.
- Me gustaría manejar el coche nuevo.I would like to drive the new car.
- Hoy quiero manejar yo.Today I want to drive.
- Si tengo energía, quiero manejar hasta la costa.If I have energy, I want to drive to the coast.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are preparing for a road trip.
- Alejandro¿Quieres que yo conduzca?Do you want me to drive?
- SofíaNo, gracias, yo quiero manejar.No, thanks, I want to drive.
- AlejandroEstá bien, tú puedes manejar hoy.Fine, you can drive today.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo me encargo de la ruta.Perfect, I will take care of the route.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manejar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
