intriga
“intriga” means “mystery” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
mystery, intrigue
Also: plot, suspense
📝 In Action
La película está llena de intriga de principio a fin.
B1The movie is full of mystery from beginning to end.
Me muero de la intriga por saber qué hay en la caja.
A2I'm dying of curiosity to know what's in the box.
Descubrieron una intriga política para ganar las elecciones.
C1They discovered a political plot to win the elections.
to intrigue, to pique someone's interest
Also: to scheme
📝 In Action
Ese hombre me intriga; nunca habla de su pasado.
B1That man intrigues me; he never talks about his past.
Me intriga saber cómo terminó el libro.
B1I'm curious to know how the book ended.
Los políticos intrigaron para cambiar la ley.
C1The politicians plotted to change the law.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: intriga
Question 1 of 3
How would you say 'I am curious/intrigued' using the verb form?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'intricare', meaning 'to entangle or perplex'. It shares the same roots as the word 'intricate'.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'intriga' always negative, like a bad plot?
Not at all! While it can mean a secret scheme, it's very often used just to mean deep interest or curiosity about something mysterious.
What's the difference between 'misterio' and 'intriga'?
'Misterio' is something unknown. 'Intriga' usually involves a 'hook' that makes you want to find out more, or a human element of plotting.
Can I use 'intriga' for a person?
Yes! You can say 'Esa mujer me intriga' to mean you find her mysterious and interesting.