comandar

Comandar is a verb used in Portuguese and, to a lesser extent, in Spanish, meaning to direct, to command, or to be in charge of someone or something. In both languages it covers leading a group, managing a task, or exercising authority over a mission, operation, or organization. In Portuguese, comandar is a regular -ar verb and conjugates as eu comando, tu comandas, ele comanda, nós comandamos, eles comandam, with various forms across tenses. In contexts such as the military, maritime, aviation, or corporate settings, the term emphasizes the act of taking charge or directing an effort.

Usage examples in Portuguese include comandar uma equipe (to command a team), comandar uma missão, or comandar a frota naval. In nautical and military registers, comandar can denote the official responsibility of a commander or a ship’s captain schematically described as comanda a embarcação. In everyday language, comandar can be used figuratively to indicate leadership or control over a situation.

In Spanish, comandar exists but is less common than mandar or dirigir; it appears in formal or nautical registers and in certain dialects. When used, it generally conveys the act of commanding or overseeing, as in comanda el barco or el general comanda las tropas.

Etymology traces comandar to Latin commandare, through medieval Latin, sharing roots with related terms such as comando (order or command) and comandante (commander). Related terms include mandar (to order), comando, and comanda, which reflect the broader family of words about authority and leadership.