Introduction
intentarían is a useful Spanish verb form for talking about what people would try or attempt under certain conditions. You may see it in conversations about plans, imagined situations, suggestions, and things that might happen in the future. For example, someone might say that their friends would try a new recipe if they had enough time. The verb form does not tell you exactly whether the attempt would succeed. It only describes the effort or possibility.
For English-speaking learners, this word is also a good way to understand how Spanish forms the conditional tense. Its ending gives clues about who is doing the action and when the action is imagined. Learning to recognize it can help you follow everyday conversations, read stories, and express polite or hypothetical ideas. This guide explains its meaning, pronunciation, grammar, and common differences from similar words, with clear examples to help you use it naturally.
Meaning and Definition
intentarían means they would try or you all would try. In some situations, it can also be translated as they would attempt or they would make an effort to do something. It comes from the infinitive intentar, which means to try, attempt, or make an effort. The exact English translation depends on the rest of the sentence and on the situation being discussed.
This form is the third-person plural conditional of intentar. It can refer to ellos or ellas, meaning they, or to ustedes, meaning you all. Spanish verbs change their endings to show who is doing an action. Here, the ending tells you that the subject is plural and that the action is conditional or imagined, rather than simply presented as something that is happening now.
The conditional often corresponds to would plus a verb in English. For example, a sentence with intentarían may describe what a group would try if a certain condition were met. The condition may be stated directly, as in a sentence beginning with si, meaning if. It can also be understood from an earlier part of the conversation. The word itself does not necessarily include the condition; context supplies it.
The verb intentar focuses on making an effort. It does not promise success. If a group tries to learn a song, they may or may not learn it. The verb describes their effort, not the final result. This distinction is helpful when you want to talk about a plan without claiming that the plan will definitely work.
To form the conditional of a regular verb such as intentar, keep the complete infinitive and add a conditional ending. The endings are -ía for yo, -ías for tú, -ía for él, ella, or usted, -íamos for nosotros or nosotras, -íais for vosotros or vosotras, and -ían for ellos, ellas, or ustedes. So the pattern is intentar plus -ían for a plural subject. The same set of endings is used with many other Spanish infinitives.
The infinitive intentar comes through Latin roots connected with stretching or directing effort toward something. In modern Spanish, its main everyday meaning is simply to try or attempt. Learners do not need to know its history to use it, but the idea of directing effort toward a goal can make the meaning easier to remember.
Usage and Example Sentences
The examples below show how the subject and situation affect the translation. Notice that English often uses would, while Spanish expresses the conditional meaning through the verb ending. In each sentence, the attempt may succeed or fail; the verb alone does not tell us which outcome occurs.
Spanish: Si tuvieran más tiempo, intentarían preparar una cena especial.
English: If they had more time, they would try to prepare a special dinner.
Spanish: Mis compañeros intentarían resolver el acertijo juntos.
English: My classmates would try to solve the puzzle together.
Spanish: ¿intentarían ustedes aprender una canción nueva?
English: Would you all try to learn a new song?
Spanish: Ellas intentarían llegar temprano si el autobús saliera antes.
English: They would try to arrive early if the bus left earlier.
Spanish: Los estudiantes intentarían explicar sus ideas con más ejemplos.
English: The students would try to explain their ideas with more examples.
Spanish: Si el jardín tuviera más espacio, mis vecinos intentarían plantar hierbas aromáticas.
English: If the garden had more space, my neighbors would try to plant aromatic herbs.
Spanish: ¿intentarían tus primos participar en el concurso de dibujo?
English: Would your cousins try to take part in the drawing contest?
Spanish: Los visitantes intentarían usar algunas palabras en español durante el recorrido.
English: The visitors would try to use a few Spanish words during the tour.
Spanish: Con una explicación más clara, los niños intentarían completar la actividad.
English: With a clearer explanation, the children would try to complete the activity.
Spanish: Mis amigas intentarían organizar una tarde de juegos para todos.
English: My friends would try to organize an afternoon of games for everyone.
In many of these examples, a si clause introduces a condition. The verb in that clause often appears in the imperfect subjunctive, as in si tuvieran or si el jardín tuviera. The main clause then uses the conditional to describe the result that would follow. This pattern is common in Spanish, but you can also use the conditional without stating the condition when listeners already know what it is.
The subject does not always need to appear beside the verb. Spanish speakers often leave out a subject pronoun because the verb ending makes the subject clear. For instance, someone could say intentarían after mentioning a group in the previous sentence. A noun such as los estudiantes or the pronoun ellos may still be included when the speaker wants to identify the group or emphasize who would make the effort.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Word Usage Differences
A close synonym is tratarían de, meaning they would try to. It is followed by de and an infinitive: tratarían de aprender means they would try to learn. This expression is common and natural. Intentarían can be followed directly by an infinitive, as in intentarían aprender. Both are useful, and the choice often depends on personal style or the rhythm of the sentence.
Probarían can mean they would try, but it often suggests testing or sampling something. For example, probarían una actividad nueva can mean they would try a new activity. With food, probarían un postre often means they would taste a dessert. Intentarían usually places more focus on effort toward a goal, while probarían can focus on having an experience or finding out what something is like.
Querrían means they would want. It describes a desire, not necessarily an attempt. A group may want to learn a song but never make an effort to do so. By contrast, intentarían says they would try to learn it. Likewise, podrían means they could or might be able to, and it focuses on possibility or ability. These words can appear in related situations, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.
Harían, from hacer, means they would do or make. It is broader than intentarían. Compare harían la actividad, meaning they would do the activity, with intentarían hacer la actividad, meaning they would try to do the activity. The second sentence highlights effort and leaves open the possibility that the task may not be completed.
There is no single perfect opposite of intentarían for every context. Desistirían means they would give up or stop trying, and renunciarían can mean they would give up or abandon a plan. Evitarían means they would avoid something, which can be the opposite of trying to do it. The best choice depends on the intended idea: stopping an effort, leaving a plan, or staying away from an action.
Be careful not to confuse intentarían with intentarían? No: the conditional form has the accent mark on the í before the final syllable sequence. The singular form intentaría means he, she, or you formal would try. The first-person form intentaría also means I would try, so context or a subject pronoun can clarify who is speaking. The plural ending in intentarían is what marks they or you all.
Another useful contrast is between the conditional and the simple future. Intentarán means they will try, while intentarían means they would try. The future presents an action as expected or planned. The conditional often connects it to an imagined condition, a possibility, or a polite question. Compare intentarán practicar mañana, they will practice tomorrow, with intentarían practicar mañana si no tuvieran otros planes, they would try to practice tomorrow if they had no other plans.
Pronunciation and Accent
A helpful pronunciation guide for intentarían is in-ten-ta-RÍ-an. In IPA, it can be written as /in.ten.taˈɾi.an/. The symbol ˈ appears before the stressed syllable. The Spanish r in this word is a light tap of the tongue, similar to the single r in caro. It is not the strong rolled sound heard in a word such as perro.
Say the word in five clear syllables: in, ten, ta, rí, an. The stressed syllable is rí. The written accent mark over í is important because it shows that this syllable carries the stress and stays separate from the final a. Without that accent, the spelling would not show the same pronunciation pattern.
Spanish conditional forms commonly have an accent mark on the í in their endings, including -ía, -ías, -íamos, -íais, and -ían. In this word, the accent mark is not decorative, and it should not be left out in writing. A common learner mistake is to pronounce the ending as one quick blended sound. Instead, give the stressed í a clear sound and finish with a separate, light a.
English speakers sometimes pronounce the Spanish t like the English t in a strongly aspirated word. Spanish t is usually made with less air, with the tongue near the upper teeth. Also avoid changing the final n into an English-style extra syllable. Listen for the five-part rhythm and practice slowly before saying the whole word at a natural speed.
Native Speaker Nuance and Usage Context
Spanish speakers use intentarían in ordinary conversation when talking about possible plans, imagined choices, or actions that depend on a condition. It works in both casual and formal settings. Friends might discuss what they would do on a free afternoon, while a teacher might explain how students would approach a classroom activity. The verb itself is neutral and does not sound especially formal or informal.
It can also soften a question or suggestion. Asking ¿intentarían ustedes participar? sounds less direct than ordering people to participate. The conditional gives the listener room to consider the idea. The tone still depends on voice, wording, and relationship, but this form often makes a question feel more tentative and courteous.
Context helps listeners understand who the subject is. In much of the Spanish-speaking world, ustedes is the usual plural form of you, so intentarían may address a group directly. In places where vosotros is used for informal plural you, the corresponding form is intentaríais. When the subject is not obvious, speakers can add ustedes, ellos, ellas, or a noun to make the meaning clear.
The conditional does not always describe an unreal or impossible event. It can express a plan that remains dependent on circumstances, a guess about what people might do, or an imagined response. For example, if a group has not decided yet, a speaker might use intentarían to describe what they would probably try. The form signals distance from a definite statement, not necessarily doubt about the group’s ability.
To sound natural, pair intentar with an infinitive when naming the action: intentarían cocinar, intentarían escribir, or intentarían aprender. Spanish does not normally need a separate word equivalent to to between intentar and the next verb. If you use tratar, however, remember the de in tratarían de cocinar. Keeping these patterns in mind makes it easier to form smooth sentences.
In conversation, speakers may also use the conditional to report a plan from someone else’s point of view. If a person describes what a group said they would do, the form may appear as part of a longer explanation. Do not assume that it always refers to the speaker’s own opinion. Look for the subject, any condition, and the surrounding verbs to identify whose possible action is being described.
Conclusion
intentarían means they would try, they would attempt, or you all would try. It is the third-person plural conditional form of intentar, a regular verb meaning to try or make an effort. The form is useful when describing imagined actions, plans that depend on a condition, or polite questions. It focuses on effort rather than guaranteeing success.
Remember the basic structure: the full infinitive intentar plus the conditional ending -ían. The accent mark signals stress on í, and the pronunciation can be practiced as in-ten-ta-RÍ-an. When choosing related words, use tratarían de for a similar sense of trying, probarían for testing or sampling, and querrían for wanting. With these differences in mind, you can recognize the form in reading and use it confidently in conversation. Practice it in short conditional sentences, then add details about who would try something and under what circumstances.
