My way: what is the difference between "manera" and "via?"
My first tendency was to use "via" every time I thought "way," -- and I've gotten lots of confused looks -- but now I am seeing that "manera" is often the better choice.
Does "via" - which the dictionary says is "route," mean a more physical thing? La Gran Via.
And, "manera" - which the dictionary says a lot about, is more, "in the manner of."
I could use some clarification here and maybe some examples of correct usage of both. How would Frank Sinatra's song, "My Way," be translated? "Mi manera?"
From the dictionary...
way, manner (forma)
a manera de -> as, by way of (como)
a la manera de -> in the style of, after the fashion of
a mi manera de ver -> the way I see it
de cualquier manera -> any old how; (sin cuidado) anyway, in any case (de todos modos)
de esta manera -> in this way
de mala manera -> badly (peninsular Spanish)
lo hice de la misma manera que ayer/tú -> I did it the same way as yesterday/you
de manera que -> so (that)
de ninguna manera, en manera alguna -> by no means, under no circumstances;
(refuerza negación) no way!, certainly not! (respuesta exclamativa)
de todas maneras -> anyway
de una manera o de otra -> one way or another
en cierta manera -> in a way
no hay manera -> there is no way, it's impossible
¡contigo no hay manera! -> you're impossible!
¡qué manera de llover! -> just look at that rain!
manera de pensar -> way of thinking
manera de ser -> way of being, nature
7 Answers
Hi Joyce,
I think you are on to it. Manera has more to do with a way of behaving. Via is usually a route or path of travel.
There is another common way of expressing our word "way" which might be even more common than manera - modo.
¡El modo en que lo dijo me hizo sentir como un héroe !
The way in which he said it made me feel like a hero!
I'm sure you'll get lots of input on this. I hope this is useful, too.
J
"Vía" is the physical path something or someone follows moving towards a destination, e.g. walking, by car, by train, through a pipe... Metaphorically, it can be path taken in life, or the number of steps required to achieve something. In Latin, "via" meant course, road, channel.
Unlike in English, it does not mean manner, method, means, space, distance, style, aspect, habit, state, condition, experience... (not exhaustive)
"Manera" is not related to "vía". It means specially manner, and the way things happen or are done.
Manera, forma or modo for way, but not vía. For "my way", I would use "a mi manera".
The song "My way" is actually a Paul Anka song - sung by Frank Sinatra.
And while vía could be used metaphorically while referring to ones own road in life, it´s much more common to use camino, ruta, or even rumbo.
Hi, Joyce.
I've only heard "via" as in direction and movement = Viajó via Costa Rica (by way of)
I did it my way = Lo hice a mi manera.
well in the case of manera - which means " way" for example -"its my way of doing things! " or ' find the way your self"
but in case of via its used for expressing the 'origin from' example - " sent this post via youtube " or " sent via phone " some what this way 
With such a dissertation (perorata), I am not sure what it is confusing about "via" or "way"
Via and way = path, way, road. (camino, senda)
Way = all of what you already mentioned.
