Inklingo

How to Say "attempted" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “attempted” is “intentado” — use 'intentado' as a past participle after 'haber' (e.g., 'he intentado') to mean 'have attempted', or as an adjective describing something that was attempted but not completed, like a crime..

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intentado

/een-ten-TAH-doh//in.tenˈta.ðo/

Verb (past participle) / AdjectiveA2 / B2General
Use 'intentado' as a past participle after 'haber' (e.g., 'he intentado') to mean 'have attempted', or as an adjective describing something that was attempted but not completed, like a crime.
A small, determined cartoon figure standing triumphantly on the peak of a steep, colorful hill, showing the action of having tried and succeeded.

Examples

Nunca he intentado hacer paracaidismo.

I have never tried skydiving.

Ellos habían intentado hablar con el jefe varias veces.

They had attempted to speak with the boss several times.

¿Quién ha intentado robar mi cartera?

Who has tried to steal my wallet?

La policía está investigando el robo intentado de un banco.

The police are investigating the attempted robbery of a bank.

Forming Perfect Tenses

You always use 'intentado' with a form of the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past: 'Hemos intentado' (We have tried).

Matching the Noun

When 'intentado' is an adjective, you must make its ending match the gender and number of the thing it describes: 'la misión intentada' (feminine singular), 'los crímenes intentados' (masculine plural).

Verb (past tense)A2General
Use 'intentó' for the third-person singular preterite tense (he/she/it attempted) when describing a completed action in the past.

Examples

Él intentó levantar la caja, pero era muy pesada.

He tried to lift the box, but it was very heavy.

trató

Verb (past tense)A2General
Use 'trató' for the third-person singular preterite tense (he/she/it tried/made an effort) when emphasizing the effort made, often when the outcome is uncertain or unsuccessful.

Examples

Ella trató de llamarte, pero no contestaste.

She tried to call you, but you didn't answer.

Intentar vs. Tratar in the Past

Learners often confuse 'intentó' and 'trató' when translating 'he/she/it attempted'. While both are past tense, 'intentó' focuses on the action of trying itself, whereas 'trató' highlights the effort made, especially if the attempt was unsuccessful or the outcome uncertain.

Related Translations

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