A small, determined character straining to pull a large, heavy red cube with a rope up a gentle green hill, demonstrating persistent effort.

intentando

/in-ten-TAN-doh/

Verb Form (Gerund)A2regular ar

trying?describing an action in progress

Also:attempting?a slightly more formal alternative to 'trying'

Quick Reference

infinitiveintentar

gerundintentando

past Participleintentado

📝 In Action

Estoy intentando aprender español.

I'm trying to learn Spanish.

Sigue intentando, ¡casi lo tienes!

Keep trying, you've almost got it!

Llevo horas intentando arreglar la computadora.

I've been trying to fix the computer for hours.

Pasé toda la tarde intentando contactarlo.

I spent the whole afternoon trying to contact him.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tratando (trying)
procurando (trying (to ensure))

Antonyms

logrando (succeeding / achieving)
consiguiendo (getting / managing to)
rindiéndose (giving up)

Common Collocations

estar intentando – to be trying
seguir intentando – to keep trying
llevar tiempo intentando – to have been trying for a while

💡 Grammar Points

The Spanish '-ing' Form

'Intentando' is the '-ing' version of the verb 'intentar' (to try). You'll almost always see it paired with another verb, most commonly 'estar', to say that you are trying something right now. For example, 'Estoy intentando' means 'I am trying'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Not a Standalone Verb

Mistake: "Yo intentando hablar."

Correction: Yo *estoy* intentando hablar. In Spanish, you usually need a helper verb like 'estar' (to be) before the '-ando' or '-iendo' form to talk about what you're doing right now.

⭐ Usage Tips

More Than Just 'Right Now'

While 'estoy intentando' means 'I am trying' right now, you can also use 'intentando' with other verbs like 'seguir' (to keep) or 'llevar' (to have been). For example, 'Sigo intentando' means 'I keep trying'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: intentando

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly says 'She is trying to open the door'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

intentar(to try, to attempt) - verb

intento(an attempt, a try) - noun

intención(intention) - noun

intencional(intentional) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'intentando' and 'tratando'?

They are very similar and often interchangeable, as both come from verbs meaning 'to try'. 'Intentar' can sometimes imply a more focused effort or a single attempt, while 'tratar de' is a very common, general way to say 'to try to'. In most everyday situations, you can use either one.

Can I use 'intentando' by itself?

Rarely. It almost always needs a helper verb like 'estar' (estoy intentando), 'seguir' (sigo intentando), or 'llevar' (llevo intentando). By itself, it can sometimes be used in photo captions or very short, punchy statements, like 'Intentando relajarme.' (Trying to relax.), but this is less common in full sentences.