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A small, nervous character stands at the base of a small grassy hill, looking up uncertainly. A larger, friendly character stands next to them, giving a supportive thumbs-up gesture toward the top of the hill.

inténtalo

een-TEN-tah-loh

Verb Phrase (Command)A1regular ar
try it?Encouraging someone to make an effort.
Also:give it a shot?Informal encouragement.,attempt it?In a more formal context.

Quick Reference

infinitiveintentar (to try)
gerundintentando (trying)
past Participleintentado (tried)

📝 In Action

No te rindas ahora, inténtalo una vez más.

A1

Don't give up now, try it one more time.

Si quieres hornear el pan, inténtalo. Te diré si necesitas ayuda.

A2

If you want to bake the bread, try it. I'll tell you if you need help.

El ejercicio parece imposible, pero inténtalo despacio.

A1

The exercise looks impossible, but try it slowly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • prueba (try (command))
  • esfuérzate (make an effort)

Antonyms

  • déjalo (leave it/quit it)

Common Collocations

  • ¡Vamos, inténtalo! – Come on, try it!
  • inténtalo de nuevo – try it again

💡 Grammar Points

Making Commands

This word is a direct command (the 'tú' form of the verb 'intentar'). It tells a friend or peer what to do.

Sticking the 'It' On

When giving a positive command in Spanish, you must stick the object pronoun ('lo' meaning 'it') directly onto the end of the verb, making one word.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Accent

Mistake: "Intentalo (without accent)"

Correction: Inténtalo (with accent). When you add two or more syllables (like 'lo') to a command, you must add an accent mark to keep the original stress on the verb's second-to-last syllable.

Separating the Pronoun

Mistake: "Intenta lo"

Correction: Inténtalo. The pronoun 'lo' must be attached to the affirmative command; it cannot stand alone before the verb.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Formal Version

If you were speaking to someone formally (using 'usted'), you would say 'Inténtelo' (Try it, sir/ma'am).

✏️ 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

intentar(to try, to attempt) - verb
el intento(the attempt) - noun
la intención(the intention) - noun

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.