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"Enviar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to send", and "mandar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to order". Learn more about the difference between "enviar" and "mandar" below.
enviar(
ehn
-
byahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to send
Mis amigos me enviaron fotos de la fiesta.My friends sent me photos of the party.
b. to mail
Yo le envié a mi novio tres cartas por semana.I mailed my boyfriend three letters a week.
a. to send
El paquete que me enviaron aún no llegó.The package they sent me still hasn't arrived.
b. to ship
La empresa envía sus mercancías por carretera.The company ships its goods by road.
a. to send
Mi mamá envió a mi hermano a que fuera de compras.My mom sent my brother shopping.
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mandar(
mahn
-
dahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to order
Le mandaron que no se moviera ni hiciera nada.He was ordered to stay still and do nothing.
b. to tell
El profesor mandó a los alumnos estar callados mientras hacían el examen.The teacher told the students to be quiet during the exam.
c. to command
El policía le mandó que se detuviera.The policeman commanded him to stop.
a. to send
¿Debería mandarle flores para su cumpleaños?Should I send her flowers for her birthday?
a. to be in command of
Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, mi abuelo mandaba el cuerpo de paracaidistas.During World War II, my grandfather was in command of the parachute corps.
b. to be in charge of
¿Quién manda el coro de niños que cantó en el festival?Who is in charge of the children's choir that sang at the festival?
a. to send
Mi mamá me mandó a la panadería a comprar una barra de pan.My mom sent me to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread.
b. to send for
La abuela me mandó a venir a pasar la tarde con ella.Grandma sent for me to come and spend the afternoon with her.
a. to prescribe
El médico le mandó una pastilla para su dolor de cabeza.The doctor prescribed a pill for his headache.
a. to send
El portero mandó el balón al delantero de su equipo.The goalkeeper sent the ball to his team's center-forward.
b. to hit
El jugador de tenis mandó la pelota directamente al cuerpo de su adversario.The tennis player hit the ball right to his opponent.
7. (to hurl)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to throw
Mandó su anillo de bodas al mar después de divorciarse.She threw her wedding ring into the sea after getting divorced.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to be in command
Él manda hasta que el capitán lo releve.He is in command until he is relieved by the Captain.
b. to be in charge
El gerente manda en el departamento de ventas de la compañía.The manager is in charge of the sales department of the company.
mandarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
9. (to concoct)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
(South America)
a. to come out with
Mi hermano siempre se manda cada excusa para no hacer los deberes.My brother always comes out with great excuses to not do his homework.
10. (to finish off)
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
(Caribbean)
(River Plate)
a. to polish off (food)
Se empachó después de haberse mandado toda la torta.He got an upset stomach after polishing off the whole cake.
b. to knock back (drink)
La salsa estaba tan picosa que se mandó toda la jarra de cerveza.The salsa was so hot that he knocked back the whole pitcher of beer.
c. to down (drink)
Sergio estaba tan nervioso antes de la cita que se mandó un whisky.Sergio was so nervous before the meeting that he downed a whiskey.
11.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(to abuse; often used with "con")
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. to take advantage
Ese primo tuyo se manda con nosotros.That cousin of yours takes advantage of us.
12. (used to tell someone to do something)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
(South America)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Mándese sentar.Please sit down.
Dile que se mande cambiar.Tell him to clear off.
a. to get around by oneself
No se manda desde que se rompió la pierna.He can't get around by himself since he broke his leg.
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