Mandar -vs- Enviar
4
votes
Some of my resources teach "mandar" as "to send", and others teach "enviar".
Is there a difference or are they interchangeable?
I've seen both:
Voy a mandar las cartas.
Voy a enviar las cartas.
28200 views
updated Sep 4, 2011
posted by Tosh
And again Tosh asks another of my outstanding questions! - territurtle, Sep 4, 2011
1 Answer
9
votes
In the sense of sending something or someone, I think they are the same, but "mandar" also means to command, to give orders, to give people instructions...
Enviar comes form Latin inviare (ir- + via), which means to put on its way (-> via). Think of English "envoy". "Mandar" comes ultimately from Latin manus (hand), being something like putting something in someone's hands. Think of English "mandatory", "demand", "command", "mandate"...
updated Sep 4, 2011
edited by lazarus1907
posted by lazarus1907
Thank you! Very helpful... - Tosh, Sep 3, 2011
