tratar
“tratar” means “to try” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
to try, to attempt
📝 In Action
Trato de comer más verduras.
A2I try to eat more vegetables.
Ella trató de llamarte ayer.
A2She tried to call you yesterday.
Estamos tratando de arreglar el coche.
B1We are trying to fix the car.
to treat, to handle
Also: to address
📝 In Action
Mis jefes me tratan muy bien.
A2My bosses treat me very well.
Hay que tratar este material con cuidado.
B1You have to handle this material with care.
¿Cómo te trataron en el hotel?
A2How did they treat you at the hotel?
to be about, to deal with
📝 In Action
Esta película trata de la guerra civil.
B1This movie is about the civil war.
¿De qué trata el libro?
B1What is the book about?
La reunión trató sobre los nuevos precios.
B2The meeting dealt with the new prices.
to treat, to do business with
📝 In Action
El médico está tratando la infección.
B2The doctor is treating the infection.
No me gusta tratar con esa empresa.
B2I don't like doing business with that company.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tratar
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'I am trying to sleep', which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'tractare', meaning to drag, handle, or manage.
First recorded: 12th Century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'intentar' and 'tratar de'?
They both mean 'to try'. 'Intentar' is slightly more about the intention, while 'tratar de' emphasizes the effort or process. However, in daily conversation, they are almost 100% interchangeable.
Do I always need 'de' after 'tratar'?
No! Only use 'de' when you mean 'to try to do something' or 'to be about something'. If you mean 'to treat a person' or 'to treat an illness', do not use 'de'.