How to Say "to scheme" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to scheme” is “tramar” — use 'tramar' when the scheming involves planning something sneaky or deceitful, often with negative intentions..
tramar
/tra-MAR//tɾaˈmaɾ/
Examples
Los villanos están tramando un plan para robar el banco.
The villains are plotting a plan to rob the bank.
¿Qué están tramando ustedes dos en la cocina?
What are you two up to in the kitchen?
Ella tramó una sorpresa increíble para el cumpleaños de su madre.
She hatched an incredible surprise for her mother's birthday.
Direct Action
You don't need a connector word like 'at' or 'about' after tramar. You simply tramar something directly, like 'tramar un plan'.
Regular Pattern
This verb follows the standard -ar pattern perfectly, so if you know how to conjugate 'hablar', you already know how to conjugate 'tramar'!
Confusion with 'Traer'
Mistake: “Yo traigo un plan.”
Correction: Yo tramo un plan. 'Traer' means to bring, while 'tramar' means to plot or design a plan.
intrigar
/een-TREE-gah//inˈtɾiɣa/
Examples
Ese hombre me intriga; nunca habla de su pasado.
That man intrigues me; he never talks about his past.
Me intriga saber cómo terminó el libro.
I'm curious to know how the book ended.
Los políticos intrigaron para cambiar la ley.
The politicians plotted to change the law.
The 'Gustar' Pattern
When you want to say something intrigues you, use it like 'gustar': 'Me intriga' (It intrigues me).
Spelling Change
In the past 'I' form (yo), the 'g' becomes 'gu' (intrigué) to keep the hard 'G' sound. Otherwise, it would sound like a 'J'!
Wrong verb structure
Mistake: “Yo intrigo por la ciencia.”
Correction: Me intriga la ciencia. (Use 'me' to show the science is doing the intriguing to you).
maquinar
/mah-kee-NAR//makiˈnaɾ/
Examples
Los villanos están maquinando un plan para escapar.
The villains are plotting a plan to escape.
Lleva semanas maquinando cómo pedirle un aumento a su jefe.
She has been scheming for weeks about how to ask her boss for a raise.
Es peligroso dejar que ese hombre maquine en silencio.
It is dangerous to let that man plot in silence.
A perfectly regular verb
This verb follows the standard rules for all verbs ending in -ar. If you know how to conjugate 'hablar' or 'caminar,' you already know how to conjugate 'maquinar'!
Using 'something'
In Spanish, you usually 'maquinar' something (like a plan or a lie). It doesn't typically stand alone without mentioning what you are plotting.
The Makeup Mix-up
Mistake: “Yo maquino mi cara todas las mañanas.”
Correction: Yo me maquillo la cara todas las mañanas.
Tramar vs. Maquinar
Related Translations
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