Inklingo
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A simple profile illustration of a person's head against a colorful background. A bright, stylized lightbulb floats directly above the head, connected by a simple dashed line, symbolizing a formed plan or intention.

intención

een-ten-syohn

nounfA2
intention?a plan or idea in your mind,purpose?the reason behind an action
Also:aim?a specific goal,motive?the psychological drive

📝 In Action

Mi intención es viajar por Sudamérica el próximo año.

A2

My intention is to travel through South America next year.

Tienes que preguntarle su verdadera intención antes de aceptar.

B1

You have to ask him his true purpose before accepting.

Lo hice sin mala intención, fue un accidente.

B2

I did it without bad intent (or malice), it was an accident.

El director explicó la intención de la nueva política.

B2

The director explained the aim (or purpose) of the new policy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • propósito (purpose, aim)
  • objetivo (objective, goal)

Common Collocations

  • tener la intención de – to intend to
  • con buena intención – with good intentions/well-meaning
  • sin intención – unintentionally

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Even though it ends in '-ón', the word 'intención' is always feminine. Remember it with 'La intención'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Intención vs. Intento

Mistake: "Using 'intento' when you mean purpose. E.g., 'Mi intento es aprender.'"

Correction: Use 'intención' (purpose/goal) when talking about what you want to do, and 'intento' (noun: attempt/try) when talking about the act of trying. Correct: 'Mi intención es aprender.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing Your Plans

The most natural way to state your goal is using the phrase 'Tener la intención de' followed by the base form of the verb: 'Tengo la intención de llamar.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: intención

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase correctly expresses a future plan?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

intencionado(intentional, deliberate) - adjective
intencionar(to intend (less common)) - verb
intento(attempt, try (noun)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'intención' the same as 'propósito'?

They are very close! 'Intención' usually focuses on the mental resolve or goal behind an action, while 'propósito' often emphasizes the higher aim or reason for something. You can usually use them interchangeably for basic goals.

How do I make 'intención' plural?

You change the 'n' to a 'c' before adding 'es', making it 'intenciones'. Example: 'Las intenciones del gobierno.' (The intentions of the government.)