intentarvstratar de
/een-ten-TAR/
/trah-TAR deh/
💡 Quick Rule
Use 'intentar' for the effort. Use 'tratar de' for the goal. In many cases, they are interchangeable.
Think: INTENTAR = the INTENTion to act. TRATAR DE = Trying to hit a Target.
- The biggest rule: 'tratar' without 'de' + verb means 'to treat' or 'to be about'. 'Intentar' never means this.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | intentar | tratar de | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Structure | Intenté llamarte. | Traté de llamarte. | This is the #1 rule: 'intentar' connects directly to a verb, but 'tratar' MUST have 'de' in between. |
| Nuance | Intenta no hacer ruido. | Trata de no hacer ruido. | Both mean 'Try not to make noise.' They are almost perfectly interchangeable here, with 'intentar' being slightly more common. |
| Alternate Meanings | (Not applicable) | El libro trata de la historia. | Only 'tratar de' can mean 'to be about'. You cannot use 'intentar' for this. |
| Another Alternate Meaning | (Not applicable) | Mi jefe me trata bien. | Without 'de', 'tratar' means 'to treat' (someone). 'Intentar' never has this meaning. |
✅ When to Use "intentar" / tratar de
intentar
To try, to attempt. Focuses on the action or effort itself.
/een-ten-TAR/
Making a general effort
Intenté levantar la caja, pero era muy pesada.
I tried to lift the box, but it was too heavy.
Followed directly by a verb
Voy a intentar terminar esto hoy.
I'm going to try to finish this today.
A common, all-purpose 'to try'
Inténtalo de nuevo.
Try it again.
tratar de
To try to do something. Often points toward achieving a specific outcome.
/trah-TAR deh/
Aiming for a specific result
Trata de llegar a tiempo, por favor.
Try to arrive on time, please.
Must be followed by 'de' + verb
Ella trata de entender la lección.
She is trying to understand the lesson.
To describe what something is 'about'
La película trata de un héroe.
The movie is about a hero.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "intentar":
Intenté abrir la ventana.
I tried to open the window.
With "tratar de":
Traté de abrir la ventana.
I tried to open the window.
The Difference: In most day-to-day situations, these are completely interchangeable. Many native speakers wouldn't notice a difference. 'Intentar' is a slightly more common and direct choice.
With "intentar":
(Incorrect use)
(This doesn't make sense in Spanish)
With "tratar de":
Este documental trata de los animales.
This documentary is about animals.
The Difference: This is a non-negotiable rule. Only 'tratar de' can mean 'to be about'. A documentary can't 'attempt' something, so 'intentar' is impossible here.
With "intentar":
Intenta ser amable.
Try to be kind. (Make an effort to be kind).
With "tratar de":
Él me trata con amabilidad.
He treats me with kindness.
The Difference: This highlights the other meaning of 'tratar'. Without 'de' + verb, it means 'to treat'. 'Intentar' is about making an attempt at an action.
🎨 Visual Comparison
'Intentar' is about the effort you put in. 'Tratar de' is about the goal you're trying to reach.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Intenté de arreglar el coche.
Intenté arreglar el coche.
A classic mistake. 'Intentar' never uses 'de' before the next verb. Just connect them directly.
Yo trato hablar español.
Yo trato de hablar español.
The opposite mistake! When you mean 'to try', 'tratar' always needs 'de' to connect to the next verb.
La serie intenta de una familia.
La serie trata de una familia.
To describe what a book, movie, or show is 'about', you must use 'tratar de'. 'Intentar' only means 'to attempt'.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Intentar vs Tratar de
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 'intentar' and 'tratar de' ever perfectly interchangeable?
Yes, in many everyday contexts when you mean 'to try', speakers use them interchangeably without any real difference in meaning. 'Intentar' is slightly more common and a safe bet if you're unsure.
What's the most important difference to remember?
There are two huge ones! First, the structure: 'intentar + verb' vs. 'tratar + de + verb'. Second, the alternate meanings: only 'tratar' can mean 'to treat' someone or 'to be about' a topic.