intentó
“intentó” means “tried” in Spanish (He/She/It tried).
📝 In Action
Él intentó levantar la caja, pero era muy pesada.
A2He tried to lift the box, but it was very heavy.
La empresa intentó un nuevo sistema de trabajo el mes pasado.
B1The company attempted a new work system last month.
Usted intentó comunicarse conmigo, ¿verdad?
A2You (formal) tried to contact me, right?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: intentó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'intentó'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *intendere*, which meant 'to stretch out' or 'to direct one's mind toward something.' In Spanish, this evolved to mean directing your effort toward a goal.
First recorded: Around the 13th century in its current form.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'intentó' and 'trató'?
Both mean 'tried' in the past. 'Intentó' (from intentar) is usually a straightforward attempt to achieve a goal ('He tried to call'). 'Trató' (from tratar) can also mean 'tried,' but often implies dealing with a situation or person ('He treated the matter seriously'). They are often interchangeable when referring to making an effort.
Why does 'intentó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is necessary to indicate that the stress falls on the last syllable, making it a past tense verb (inten-TÓ). If it lacked the accent ('intento'), it would be the present tense form 'I try' (IN-ten-to).