Inklingo

How to Say "i tried" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tratar

VerbA1General
Use this when you want to convey that you made an effort or an attempt to do something, regardless of the outcome.

Examples

Traté de entender la lección, pero era muy difícil.

I tried to understand the lesson, but it was very difficult.

querer

/KEE-seh//ˈkise/

VerbB1General
Use this when the focus is on your desire or intention to do something, often implying that the attempt may not have been fully realized or was unsuccessful.
A small, determined child straining slightly while pushing a large, smooth gray rock up a gentle green hill, illustrating the concept of 'I tried'.

Examples

Quise ayudarte, pero ya me había ido.

I wanted to help you / I tried to help you, but I had already left.

Quise llamarte, pero no tenía batería.

I tried to call you, but I had no battery.

No quise ofenderte con mi comentario.

I didn't mean (I refused) to offend you with my comment.

De repente, quise un helado de chocolate.

Suddenly, I wanted a chocolate ice cream.

A Completed Action vs. an Ongoing Feeling

'Quise' talks about a want or an attempt that happened at a specific moment and ended. Use 'quería' to describe a feeling of wanting that was ongoing in the past, without a clear end.

Using 'Quise' for General Past Wants

Mistake: “Cuando era niño, quise ser astronauta.”

Correction: Cuando era niño, quería ser astronauta. Use 'quería' because wanting to be an astronaut was an ongoing desire during your childhood, not a single, completed event.

Tratar vs. Querer

Learners often confuse 'tratar' and 'querer' when 'I tried' means 'I made an effort'. Remember that 'tratar' focuses on the action of trying, while 'querer' emphasizes the intention or desire, even if the action wasn't completed.

Related Translations

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