traté
“traté” means “I tried” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I tried
Also: I attempted
📝 In Action
Traté de abrir la puerta, pero estaba cerrada.
A1I tried to open the door, but it was locked.
Traté de explicarle el problema, pero no me escuchó.
A2I tried to explain the problem to him, but he didn't listen to me.
I treated
Also: I dealt with, I addressed
📝 In Action
Traté a la gente nueva con mucha amabilidad.
A2I treated the new people with great kindness.
Traté el tema con mi abogado la semana pasada.
B1I dealt with the topic with my lawyer last week.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: traté
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'traté' to mean 'I tried to do something'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *tractāre*, meaning 'to handle,' 'to manage,' or 'to move repeatedly.' This origin helps explain why the Spanish verb 'tratar' covers both handling a task (trying) and handling people (treating).
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'traté' means 'I tried' or 'I treated'?
Look at the word that follows. If it's 'de' followed by another verb (e.g., 'traté de correr'), it means 'I tried.' If it is a person or a topic (e.g., 'traté a mi hermano'), it means 'I treated' or 'I dealt with.'
Is 'traté' used for completed or ongoing actions in the past?
'Traté' is the simple past (preterite) form, meaning the action was completed and finished at a specific time: 'I tried once and stopped,' or 'I treated him that way last week.'