Introduction
Spanish learners often stare at two common verbs when they want to say try: tratar de and intentar. Both mean to attempt to do something, but their usage, formality, and collocations differ. This article explains the differences, shows clear examples, and gives practical tips so you choose the right option in everyday Spanish.
- Basic meanings and similarity
- Verb structure and grammar
- When they are interchangeable
- Nuance and preferred usage
- Subtle differences in meaning and collocations
- Reflexive and pronominal forms
- Negative forms and impossibility
- Common verbs and collocations to watch
- Examples in different tenses
- Politeness and softening requests
- Cultural and usage notes
- Quick decision guide
- Conclusion
Basic meanings and similarity
Both tratar de and intentar express an attempt to perform an action. At a basic level they are interchangeable in many sentences. For example, both of the following are correct:
Yo trato de hablar español cada día.
Yo intento hablar español cada día.
In both examples the speaker is making an effort to speak Spanish daily. Still, differences in structure, nuance, and common usage make one option more natural in certain contexts.
Verb structure and grammar
Tratar de + infinitive
Tratar de is a periphrasis: the verb tratar is followed by de and another verb in the infinitive. The pattern is: tratar + de + infinitive. Conjugate tratar for tense and subject and keep the second verb in the infinitive.
Examples:
Ella trata de estudiar más.
Traté de llamarte ayer.
Trataron de resolver el problema.
Intentar + infinitive
Intentar is a single transitive verb that is directly followed by an infinitive or a noun. The pattern is: intentar + infinitive. Conjugate intentar according to tense and subject; no preposition is needed between intentar and the following verb.
Examples:
Tú intentas aprender rápido.
Intenté abrir la puerta varias veces.
Intentaron terminar a tiempo.
When they are interchangeable
Many everyday sentences allow both verbs without changing meaning. Use the one that sounds more natural to you or fits regional preferences. Here are typical interchangeable contexts:
Trying to do an action
Voy a tratar de llegar temprano.
Voy a intentar llegar temprano.
Expressing repeated attempts
Ellos tratan de arreglar el coche cada fin de semana.
Ellos intentan arreglar el coche cada fin de semana.
Nuance and preferred usage
Formality and directness
Intentar often sounds more direct and straightforward. It focuses on the act of trying itself. Tratar de can sound slightly softer or more tentative, and in some cases more formal. Choose intentar when you want to emphasize the effort or plan, and tratar de when the attempt is more tentative or part of a broader action.
Frequency and regional preferences
Native speakers in different Spanish-speaking regions may prefer one verb over the other. In many areas, intentar is more common in informal speech, while tratar de appears often in written and formal contexts. Both are correct across the Spanish-speaking world.
Subtle differences in meaning and collocations
Tratar de can imply a process or trial
Tratar de may emphasize the process or attempt as part of a broader strategy. It can also pair with nouns when meaning to deal with or address something, although in that case tratar is often used without de or with tratar a.
Example focusing on process:
Estamos tratando de mejorar la calidad del servicio.
Here the idea is a sustained effort or process to improve service quality.
Intentar often implies a concrete effort or experiment
Intentar commonly marks a concrete, perhaps single, attempt. It can suggest an experiment: try this and see what happens. Use intentar for straightforward attempts or tests.
Example of a concrete attempt:
Intenta presionar el botón otra vez.
This sounds like a specific, immediate action the listener can take.
Reflexive and pronominal forms
Both verbs can appear in contexts involving reflexive pronouns but with different senses. Intentar is rarely reflexive; you would not normally say intentarse. Instead you use intentar + infinitive or intentar + noun.
Tratar can be used non-reflexively, and there is a separate reflexive verb tratarse which often means to be about or to behave. Be careful not to confuse tratarse de with tratar de:
Tratar de + infinitive = to try to do something.
Tratarse de + noun = to be about, to concern.
Examples:
Tratar de aprender = to try to learn.
Se trata de un problema serio. = It is about a serious problem.
Negative forms and impossibility
Both verbs form negatives in similar ways. Use no before the conjugated verb to negate the attempt. Context can change meaning slightly:
No pude intentar algo is unusual because intentar implies trying; say No pude intentarlo or No intenté.
Common negatives:
No intenté abrir la ventana.
No traté de convencerlo.
When you want to express inability rather than lack of attempt, prefer poder: No pude abrir la ventana. Use intentar or tratar de when the focus is on the attempt.
Common verbs and collocations to watch
Some verbs naturally pair with one of these verbs more often. Learning common collocations helps you sound natural.
Common with intentar
intentar + probar = intentar probar
intentar + resolver = intentar resolver
intentar + convencer = intentar convencer
Common with tratar de
tratar de + solucionar = tratar de solucionar
tratar de + mejorar = tratar de mejorar
tratar de + recordar = tratar de recordar
These are tendencies rather than strict rules. If you are unsure, both verbs will often be understood and accepted.
Examples in different tenses
Present
Yo intento aprender nuevas palabras cada día.
Yo trato de aprender nuevas palabras cada día.
Preterite
Ayer intenté correr cinco kilómetros.
Ayer traté de correr cinco kilómetros.
Imperfect (habitual past)
Cuando era joven, siempre intentaba resolver los problemas por mí mismo.
Cuando era joven, siempre trataba de resolver los problemas por mí mismo.
Future
Mañana intentaré llamar a mi madre.
Mañana trataré de llamar a mi madre.
Politeness and softening requests
Use tratar de or conditional forms to soften requests or suggestions. Politeness often favors less direct phrasing.
Instead of directly commanding, you can say:
Trata de llegar antes, por favor.
Podrías intentar abrir la ventana, por favor.
Both forms are polite; the conditional could sound even more courteous. Native speakers choose based on tone and relationship with the listener.
Cultural and usage notes
Spanish speakers value nuance and context. In some regions you might hear one form more often in colloquial speech. For instance, in parts of Latin America intentar is very common in everyday conversation, while in formal writing or news reports tratar de can appear more frequently. Listening to local media and native speakers helps you adopt the right register.
Also note that Spanish often prefers direct verb forms where English uses idiomatic expressions. Avoid translating literally from English when choosing between intentar and tratar de. Focus on the intended nuance: a concrete attempt, a process, or a softened suggestion.
Quick decision guide
If you need a fast rule of thumb:
– Use intentar for a clear, direct attempt, experiment, or specific action.
– Use tratar de for ongoing efforts, softer or tentative attempts, or slightly more formal phrasing.
– If in doubt, both are usually acceptable; prioritize natural-sounding collocations and local usage.
Conclusion
Both tratar de and intentar let you express trying to do something in Spanish. They share meaning but differ in structure, nuance, and common collocations. Learn the grammatical patterns: tratar + de + infinitive and intentar + infinitive, pay attention to subtle differences in tone, and practice listening to native speakers to match regional preferences. With exposure, choosing between tratar de and intentar will become natural.
