to send something

Question

what is the difference between mandar and enviar?

Answer 1

Basically in many situations they are interchangeable, but mandar also has the context of ordering/mandating someone to do something.

I will also steal an answer from a prior question:

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/204021/mandar-vs-enviar

lazarus1907

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"...

Great answer, Bosque :) - FELIZ77, Apr 25, 2017

Thanks, Feliz. :) - bosquederoble, Apr 25, 2017

Answer 2

Mandar could have two meanings : send or deliver is the first and command or order is the second,.

El general manda a los soldados de este regimiento. (command)

Lorenzo mandó una carta. ( send)
you can also say.
Lorenzo envió una carta ( send)

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