tratan

TRAH-tahn/ˈtɾa.tan/

“tratan” means “they treat” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

they treat🔊A2Verb

how people are behaved towards

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they are about🔊B1Verb

referring to the subject of a book, movie, or conversation

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they treat, you (pl., formal) treat

Also: they handle, they deal with

VerbA2regular ar

Two children gently help a third child stand up after a fall, illustrating kind treatment.

infinitivetratar

gerundtratando

past Participletratado

📝 In Action

Ellos tratan muy bien a todos los clientes.

They treat all the clients very well.

Ustedes tratan los problemas con mucha calma.

You (formal plural) handle the problems very calmly.

Mis vecinos siempre me tratan con amabilidad.

My neighbors always treat me with kindness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

manejan (they manage)
cuidan (they take care of)

Common Collocations

tratar con respeto – to treat with respect
tratar un tema – to deal with a topic

they are about

Also: they concern

VerbB1regular ar

A colorful illustration of an open storybook from which simple depictions of planets and stars are floating out, symbolizing the book's subject matter.

infinitivetratar

gerundtratando

past Participletratado

📝 In Action

¿De qué tratan estas películas?

What are these movies about?

Los documentos tratan sobre la nueva política ambiental.

The documents are about the new environmental policy.

Las noticias tratan temas muy delicados hoy.

The news deals with very sensitive topics today.

Word Connections

Synonyms

versan (they deal with (formal))
se refieren (they refer to)

Common Collocations

tratar sobre – to be about

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedtrata

yotrato

tútratas

ellos/ellas/ustedestratan

nosotrostratamos

vosotrostratáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedtrataba

yotrataba

tútratabas

ellos/ellas/ustedestrataban

nosotrostratábamos

vosotrostratabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedtrató

yotraté

tútrataste

ellos/ellas/ustedestrataron

nosotrostratamos

vosotrostratasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedtrate

yotrate

tútrates

ellos/ellas/ustedestraten

nosotrostratemos

vosotrostratéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedtratara/tratase

yotratara/tratase

tútrataras/tratases

ellos/ellas/ustedestrataran/tratasen

nosotrostratáramos/tratásemos

vosotrostratarais/trataseis

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "tratan" in Spanish:

they concern→they handle→they treat→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tratan

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'tratan' to mean 'they try'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

trato(treatment, deal, agreement) — Noun

tratamiento(treatment (medical or chemical)) — Noun

tratar(to treat, to try) — Verb

🎵 Rhymes▼

matan cantan

📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *tractare*, which meant 'to handle, manage, or deal with.' It is related to the English word 'tract' or 'treatise,' referring to a formal discussion of a subject.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: tratamItalian: trattano

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tratan' the same as 'traten'?

No. 'Tratan' is the form used for facts and reality (Present Indicative: They treat). 'Traten' is the form used for wishes, doubts, or requests (Present Subjunctive: That they treat, or the formal command 'Treat!').

How do I know if 'tratan' means 'treat' or 'are about'?

If 'tratan' is followed by a person, it means 'treat' ('tratan a sus amigos'). If it is followed by 'de' or 'sobre' and a topic, it means 'are about' ('tratan sobre historia').