Manobras

Manobras is a Portuguese term referring to a sequence of movements designed to maneuver a person, vehicle, device, or object from one position to another. The word is used across everyday language and technical fields, and it can denote both simple actions and complex coordinated routines, often performed to achieve a specific objective while maintaining safety and control.

In everyday life and traffic, manobras describe actions such as parking, reversing, turning, or changing course. In driving tests in many Portuguese-speaking countries, candidates are evaluated on their ability to perform a set of standard manobras, including three-point turns and parallel parking. In manufacturing and logistics, manobras can refer to repositioning loads or equipment on assembly lines.

In aviation and maritime contexts, manobras designate controlled flight or navigation movements, such as turns, climbs, stalls, and docking maneuvers. In sports, particularly those involving acrobatics or synchronized drills, they refer to planned sequences of movements. In medicine, manobra denotes a diagnostic or therapeutic technique that uses physical manipulation, such as the Heimlich maneuver or abdominal examination. The term is widely used in Portuguese and has cognates in other Romance languages.