dirigir
verbCEFR B2High frequency
What does “dirigir” mean in English?
to conduct, to lead
to conduct, to lead (a study, organisation, orchestra — dirijo, irregular first person)
Example sentences
La catedrática dirige un proyecto de investigación financiado por la Unión Europea desde hace tres años.
The professor heads a research project funded by the European Union for the past three years.
El maestro dirigió la orquesta con una precisión que arrancó una ovación del público.
The maestro conducted the orchestra with a precision that drew a standing ovation from the audience.
El proceso de selección fue dirigido por un comité independiente para garantizar la imparcialidad.
The selection process was led by an independent committee to guarantee impartiality.
How to use it
Dirigir (in the sense of 'conduct' or 'lead') means to manage, lead, or direct a process, study, or organisation. Key collocations: dirigir un estudio/una investigación (conduct a study/research), dirigir una empresa (run a company), dirigir una orquesta (conduct an orchestra). First-person present: dirijo (irregular -ijo ending). Don't confuse with conducir (to drive a vehicle, or to conduct in a leadership sense — both meanings exist in Spanish), or llevar a cabo (to carry out — a broader phrase).
Common mistake
Dirigir (to lead/conduct/manage) is the B2 formal register verb. Don't confuse with conducir (also 'to lead' in some contexts, but primarily 'to drive a vehicle' in everyday speech). Yo dirijo — the -gir verbs have -jo in the first person. Also: dirigir a alguien (to address someone / to direct someone) is a related sense: 'me dirigí al gerente' (I addressed/went to the manager).