gerir

Gerir is a Portuguese verb that means to manage, administer, or run a business, project, resource, or organization. It conveys active oversight, coordination, and decision-making, rather than simply using or possessing something. The term is standard in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese, though in Brazil there is also the common alternative gerenciar, especially in business contexts.

Etymology and related terms: Gerir derives from Latin gerere, meaning to bear, carry, or conduct, and entered Portuguese through its historical development. It is related to gest- words such as gestão (management), gestor (manager), and gerência (administration, management). The semantic field centers on handling and directing resources or activities.

Usage: The verb is used when talking about managing resources, budgets, projects, teams, or organizations. It often implies strategic planning and ongoing oversight. Common collocations include gerir recursos, gerir um orçamento, gerir uma equipa, and gerir uma empresa. In formal or institutional contexts, it appears in relation to gestão, políticas públicas, or organizações.

Notes on variation: In Brazil, gerenciar is widely used in modern corporate language, particularly in technical or digital contexts. Gerir remains common in formal or traditional writing and in everyday European Portuguese. Both forms express the same core idea of directing and coordinating activities, though regional preferences may influence usage.

See also: gestão, gestor, gerência, gerir vs. gerenciar.