Spanish Verbs (dirigir, redactar, retirarse)

These 3 verbs are a bit obscure to me dirigir is to manage? redactar is like to write up a contract i think? Also retirarse this one is a bit obscure any synonyms or easy ways to define would be lovely. Thanks again!

“Dirigir” is a cognate of english words “to direct”, and “director”. It can be translated as “manage” in certain contexts. However, it is also what the “film director” does, when he is directing a movie. A policeman can also “dirigir el tráfico”, so provides instructions to car drivers. “to direct, to steer” is the fundamental translation of the original latin word “dirigo”

Ejemplo: El policía dirige el tráfico. = The policeman manages traffic.
Hitchcock dirigió la película “Psicosis”. = Hitchcock directed the movie “Psycho”
El director dirige la empresa. = The manager manages the company.

“Redactar” means “to draft”, “to write” or “to compile”, there are many cognates in european languages but I think there is no english cognate. “Redigo” in latin is the origin (from red-ago).

Ejemplo: Los padres fundadores redactaron la ConstituciĂłn. = The Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution.

“Retirarse” is a cognate of the english word “to retire”, but the meaning is broader. It means “to withdraw, to leave, to retreat”. However, it can also mean “to retire”, due to age or other reasons.

Ejemplos: El general ordena que las tropas se retiren → the general commands that the troops should withdraw.
Sanders se retiró de la campaña y Joe Biden se convirtió en el candidato demócrata. = Sanders withdrew from the campaign and Joe Biden became the Democrat candidate.

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Thank you so much your translations are awesome and straightforward!

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“dirigirse” is often used in literature as a synonym for “fue”. Instead of saying they went somewhere, the author will say “se dirigió” somewhere. In other words, they made there way there or literally, they directed themselves there.

“jubilarse” is the most frequent verb used for retiring from employment.
“retirarse” is used for “withdrawing” as in from a meeting for example. It can be “to withdraw from the workforce” but not usually.
“retirar” is seen most frequently in withdrawing money from an ATM. Or to withdraw your credit card from a card reader. :slight_smile:

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There were some other Spanish verbs I had questions about they seem straight forward while others are not so much. These are the words and the definitions that I have.
Encargar- to order idk about encargarse
Andar- to walk
Vigilar- to keep in an eye on/watch
Yacer- to lie/reside
atar- to tie
voltear- to turn over
probar- to try/test/prove
deshacer- to undo
cobrar- to charge for
batirse- to battle idk about just batir

Most of the above is correct. A couple of notes:
Yacer is " to lie" (as in lying on the ground, not “tell lies”!) but I can’t think of any case in which “reside” would be an appropriate translation.
Encargarse de algo : take care of something, in the sense of becoming responsible for solving some issue. Karens’ motto “I’d like to talk to the manager” could be translated as “Quisiera hablar con el encargado”.
Batir = to beat (both as in defeat, or beating eggs, etc.) or even blend, as in a blender (That we call “batidora” in Spain). That’s the most frequent meaning but it also has others. For example birds can “batir sus alas” (flap their wings). The general meaning is related to hitting repeatedly.

This is quite correct. Just notice that “retirar” is also common in other contexts: A government can “retirar” (withdraw) troops. You can retirar tu apoyo (withdraw your support) and so on.