inténtalo
“inténtalo” means “try it” in Spanish (Encouraging someone to make an effort.).
📝 In Action
No te rindas ahora, inténtalo una vez más.
A1Don't give up now, try it one more time.
Si quieres hornear el pan, inténtalo. Te diré si necesitas ayuda.
A2If you want to bake the bread, try it. I'll tell you if you need help.
El ejercicio parece imposible, pero inténtalo despacio.
A1The exercise looks impossible, but try it slowly.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: inténtalo
Question 1 of 2
If you want to tell your teacher (using the formal 'usted') to 'try it,' what would you say?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'intentar,' which traces back to the Latin verb *intentāre*, meaning 'to stretch toward' or 'to direct one's attention.' The command form literally means 'direct your effort toward it.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (as 'intentar')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'inténtalo' have an accent mark?
Spanish words usually put the emphasis on the second-to-last syllable. When you attach a pronoun like 'lo' to a command (like 'intenta'), the word becomes longer. The accent mark is necessary to force the stress back onto the original syllable ('ten'), otherwise, the stress would fall incorrectly on the 'a' of 'ta'.
How do I say 'Don't try it?'
For negative commands, the pronoun goes *before* the verb and the stress remains normal: 'No lo intentes.' The accent mark is only needed for positive commands where the pronoun is attached.