¿Enviar o mandar?

Question

What is the difference between enviar and mandar? As far as I can tell, they both mean 'to send'. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

thanks Neil

Answer 2

Sorry, they're two sentences. "Nos mandan a la escuela" can have the literal meaning of "they send us to school", "they're sending us to school". There are also various phrases involving "mandar a...", including the one I mentioned, which have the notion (with different levels of colloquialism/vulgarity) of "they told us to get ...ed", "they told us where to ...", "they sent us packing" etc.

James Schneider said:

I see that the word chingada has a vulgar meaning in the site dictionary , so how is Neil's sentence to be translated ? " nos mandan a escuela,me mandaron a la chingada"

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Answer 3

James Schneider said:

So , Eddy are you saying that it is to be translated in a vulgar way ? If so I'll just use my imagination to translate it ! LOL

No! I was referring to the difference between enviar and mandar. I have deleted the other post.

Answer 4

So , Eddy are you saying that it is to be translated in a vulgar way ? If so I'll just use my imagination to translate it ! LOL

Answer 5

This looks a good candidate for the FAQ thread

Answer 6

I see that the word chingada has a vulgar meaning in the site dictionary , so how is Neil's sentence to be translated ? " nos mandan a escuela,me mandaron a la chingada"

Answer 7

Ok, thanks!

Answer 8

That really helps, thanks!

Answer 9

enviar.
1. tr. Encomendar a alguien que vaya a alguna parte.
2. tr. Hacer que algo se dirija o sea llevado a alguna parte.
3. tr. ant. Dirigir, encaminar.
4. tr. ant. Desterrar, extrañar.

mandar.
1. tr. Dicho del superior: Ordenar al súbdito.
2. tr. Imponer un precepto.
3. tr. Legar, dejar a alguien algo en testamento.
4. tr. Enviar a alguien o remitir algo.
5. tr. Encomendar o encargar algo.
6. tr. Manifestar la voluntad de que se haga algo.
7. tr. Equit. Dominar el caballo, regirlo con seguridad y destreza.
8. tr. desus. Ofrecer, prometer algo.
9. intr. Regir, gobernar, tener el mando. U. t. c. tr.
10. prnl. Dicho de una persona: Moverse, manejarse por sí misma, sin ayuda de otra. Está enfermo. No se puede mandar.
11. prnl. Am. Mer. Cumplir o hacer cumplir lo significado por el infinitivo. Se mandó cambiar. Mándalo mudar.
12. prnl. p. us. Dicho de una pieza: En los edificios, comunicarse con otra.
13. prnl. p. us. Servirse de una puerta, escalera u otra comunicación.

They can both be translated as send in certain contexts, but as you can see, they each also have distinct meanings.