trató
“trató” means “tried” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
tried, attempted
Also: gave it a go
📝 In Action
Ella trató de llamarte, pero no contestaste.
A2She tried to call you, but you didn't answer.
El equipo trató de ganar el partido, pero perdió por un punto.
B1The team attempted to win the game, but lost by one point.
¿Por qué no me preguntó? ¡Yo traté de ayudarle!
A2Why didn't he ask me? I tried to help him!
treated, handled
Also: addressed
📝 In Action
El jefe trató a sus empleados con respeto.
B1The boss treated his employees with respect.
Ella trató la herida de su perro con mucho cuidado.
B2She treated her dog's wound very carefully.
Usted trató el tema económico con demasiada ligereza.
C1You handled the economic issue too lightly.
was about, dealt with
Also: concerned
📝 In Action
La conferencia trató sobre el futuro de la inteligencia artificial.
B2The conference was about the future of artificial intelligence.
El libro de historia trató de las guerras del siglo XX.
B2The history book dealt with the wars of the 20th century.
Mi novela favorita trató temas de justicia social.
C1My favorite novel dealt with themes of social justice.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: trató
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'trató' in the sense of 'to treat a person'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Trató' comes from the verb 'tratar,' which traces its roots back to the Latin word *tractāre*. This word originally meant 'to pull, drag, handle, or manage.' This core idea of 'handling' something explains why it evolved to mean both 'to handle a topic' and 'to handle a person (treat them).'
First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'trató' the same as 'trato'?
No. 'Trató' (with the accent mark on the 'o') is the simple past action (preterite): 'He/She tried.' 'Trato' (no accent) has two main uses: it is the present tense 'I treat/I try,' OR it is the noun 'the deal/the treatment.'
How do I know if 'trató' means 'tried' or 'treated'?
Look immediately after the word. If it is followed by the little word 'de' and then an action verb (e.g., 'trató de comer'), it means 'tried.' If it's followed by a person (e.g., 'trató a su hijo'), it means 'treated.'