manejar
verbCEFR B2
What does “manejar” mean in English?
to handle, to manage
to handle, to manage (manejar una situación — deal with something skilfully; control or operate something)
Example sentences
El director sabe manejar situaciones de conflicto con calma, lo que genera confianza en el equipo.
The director knows how to handle conflict situations calmly, which generates trust in the team.
Es fundamental saber manejar grandes volúmenes de datos sin perder de vista los objetivos del análisis.
It is essential to know how to handle large volumes of data without losing sight of the objectives of the analysis.
Los cirujanos manejan instrumentos de una precisión extraordinaria que requiere años de entrenamiento.
Surgeons handle instruments of extraordinary precision that require years of training.
How to use it
Manejar means 'to handle', 'to manage', or 'to operate'. It is more common in Latin American Spanish for driving (manejar un coche), but in peninsular Spanish the primary B2 senses are: manejar una situación (handle a situation), manejar información (handle/manage information), manejar herramientas (operate tools). Do not confuse with gestionar (manage — administrative/process-focused) or dirigir (direct/lead). Manejar implies hands-on control or skilled handling.
Common mistake
In Latin America, manejar = to drive (manejar el coche). In Spain, the verb for driving is conducir. At B2 for Spanish (Spain), manejar in the driving sense will sound distinctly Latin American. The non-driving senses (handle a situation, manage data) are fully standard in both varieties.