‘Try’ in Spanish Translation | Essential Usage Guide

Learning a new language often means unlearning simple habits. In English, you use the word “try” for everything. You try a cookie, try to sleep, try on a shirt, or try to do better. Spanish handles this differently. It uses specific verbs for each of those actions.

Using the wrong verb can confuse listeners. If you use the word for “tasting food” when you mean “attempting a task,” the sentence loses its meaning. This guide breaks down exactly which verb fits which situation so you speak with confidence.

Understanding ‘Try’ in Spanish Translation

English speakers face a unique challenge here. One English verb splits into four or five distinct Spanish verbs. The correct choice depends entirely on context.

Context determines the translation. Are you putting physical effort into an action? Are you checking if a device works? Are you eating a new dish? Each scenario demands a specific word. We will look at the primary options: intentar, tratar de, probar, and probarse.

Intentar: To Attempt or Plan

Intentar serves as the most direct translation for “to attempt.” You use this when you intend to do something but the outcome is uncertain. It implies a plan or a mental commitment to the action.

This verb works best for general actions. It does not require a preposition like “de” or “a” after it. You simply follow intentar with the infinitive verb of the action you want to perform.

Examples of Intentar

• Intentar dormir — I am going to try to sleep.
• Intentar ganar — He wants to try to win the game.
• Lo intentaré mañana — I will try it tomorrow.

Think of intentar as the standard default. If you are unsure which word to use for a general attempt, intentar is usually safe.

Tratar De: Trying With Effort

Tratar de also means “to try,” but it carries a slightly different weight than intentar. It often implies dealing with something or making an active effort to achieve a result. It focuses more on the process of trying rather than just the intent.

Grammar rules here are strict. You must use the preposition de after tratar when it is followed by another verb. Without de, the meaning changes completely (often meaning “to treat” or “to deal with”).

Using Tratar De Correctly

Tratar de descansar — Try to rest. Here, you are putting effort into the act of resting.
Trata de ser amable — Try to be nice. This implies an active effort to change behavior.

Native speakers often swap intentar and tratar de, but tratar de sounds more natural when emphasizing the exertion or the “struggle” involved in the attempt.

Probar: Tasting and Testing

Probar shifts the meaning away from “attempting” and towards “testing” or “sampling.” You never use probar when you mean “try to run a marathon.” You use it when interacting with physical objects, food, or experiences.

Probar for Food

When you eat something to see if you like it, use probar. It functions exactly like “taste” in this context.

• Prueba la sopa — Try (taste) the soup.
• Quiero probar el postre — I want to try the dessert.
• ¿Has probado el taco? — Have you tried the taco?

Probar for Testing Functionality

You also use probar when checking if something works. If you fix a car and want to “try it out,” you use this verb.

• Probar el motor — Test the engine.
• Probar la conexión — Test the connection.
• Déjame probar — Let me try (it out).

Probarse: Trying On Clothing

Adding the reflexive pronoun se to probar creates probarse. This specific form applies exclusively to putting on clothes or accessories to check the fit or look. This is vital for shopping contexts.

Common mistakes: Beginners often say “Quiero probar la camisa.” That implies tasting the shirt. You must say “Quiero probarme la camisa.”

Shopping Phrases

• ¿Puedo probármelo? — Can I try it on?
• Me voy a probar estos zapatos — I am going to try on these shoes.
• Se probó el vestido — She tried on the dress.

Notice how the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos) matches the person doing the action. This grammar point is non-negotiable for clarity.

Esforzarse: To Strive or Try Hard

Sometimes “try” means giving your absolute best effort. In these cases, esforzarse (to exert oneself) captures the meaning better than intentar. It translates closer to “strive” or “make a strong effort.”

This verb requires the preposition en or por depending on the sentence structure, though por is very common when followed by an infinitive.

• Me esfuerzo por aprender — I try hard (strive) to learn.
• Se esfuerzan mucho — They try very hard.

Use this when you want to highlight the intensity of the work rather than just the action itself.

Usage Cheat Sheet

Choosing the right verb happens quickly in conversation. This simple reference table helps you map English thoughts to Spanish words instantly.

English Context	Spanish Verb	Example Phrase
General attempt / Plan	Intentar	Intentaré ir (I will try to go)
Make an effort	Tratar de	Trata de comer (Try to eat)
Taste food / Test object	Probar	Prueba esto (Try/Taste this)
Try on clothes	Probarse	Me pruebo el gorro (I try on the hat)
Strive / Work hard	Esforzarse	Me esfuerzo (I try hard)

Common Idioms and Phrases

Language involves more than direct translation. Spanish uses “try” concepts in several common idioms that do not use the verbs listed above. Learning these phrases helps you sound fluent.

Dar una oportunidad (Give it a try)

When you want to “give something a try” or “give it a shot,” you use dar una oportunidad (give an opportunity). You might also hear hacer el intento (make the attempt).

• Dale una oportunidad — Give it a try.
• Voy a hacer el intento — I am going to make the attempt (give it a shot).

Ver qué pasa (See what happens)

Sometimes “try” implies experimentation. You might say “I’ll try and see.” In Spanish, you simply say a ver qué pasa.

Grammar Checks for Accuracy

Getting the vocabulary right is step one. Step two ensures you connect these verbs correctly to the rest of the sentence. Small errors in prepositions change the meaning entirely.

Preposition Rules

Intentar + [Infinitive]: Never add “de” or “a”.
Wrong: Intentar de correr.
Right: Intentar correr.

Tratar + de + [Infinitive]: Always add “de”.
Wrong: Tratar comer.
Right: Tratar de comer.

Probar + [Noun]: Direct object follows immediately.
Wrong: Probar de la sopa.
Right: Probar la sopa.

Regional Differences

Spanish varies by region. In Mexico, tratar de appears frequently in casual speech for attempting things. In Spain, intentar sees heavy use for the same purpose. Both are understood everywhere, but listening to locals helps you tune your ear to the preferred regional choice.

Another variation involves the word tentar. While it looks like intentar, it means “to tempt” or “to feel/touch” in many places. Avoid using tentar when you mean “to try.”

Practice Scenarios

Apply what you learned to these daily situations. Visualizing the context helps lock the correct verb into your memory.

At a Restaurant: The waiter brings a new dish. You ask your friend, “¿Quieres probar?” (Do you want to try/taste?). You do not say intentar because you are not attempting a difficult task; you are sampling food.

At the Gym: You see a heavy weight. You tell your trainer, “Voy a intentar levantarlo” (I am going to try to lift it). Here, uncertain outcome defines the choice.

In a Fitting Room: You hold a pair of jeans. You ask the clerk, “¿Dónde puedo probármelos?” (Where can I try them on?). The “me” and “los” are attached to the verb, specific to clothing.

Pronunciation Tips

Mastering the sound matters as much as the grammar. The letter “r” in these verbs requires a light tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

Probar: Pronounce it “pro-BAR.” The “o” is short and crisp.
Intentar: Pronounce it “in-ten-TAR.” Stress the final syllable.
Tratar: Pronounce it “tra-TAR.” Ensure the first “a” is open.

Why Context Is King

English relies on phrasal verbs (“try out,” “try on,” “try for”). Spanish relies on distinct verb roots. If you translate word-for-word from English, you will likely make mistakes.

Stop translating the word “try.” Start translating the intention. Ask yourself: Is this physical effort? Is this sensory experience? Is this clothing? Once you categorize the intention, the Spanish verb becomes obvious.

Key Takeaways: ‘Try’ in Spanish Translation

➤ Intentar is the standard verb for “to attempt” or trying to do an action.

➤ Tratar de implies effort or process and must always be followed by “de.”

➤ Probar is used strictly for tasting food or testing how something works.

➤ Probarse is a reflexive verb used exclusively for trying on clothes.

➤ Context dictates the verb choice; never translate “try” without knowing the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ‘probar’ to mean ‘attempt’?

No, you generally cannot. If you say “probé correr,” it sounds like you tasted running or tested it like a product. To say you attempted to run, you must use intentar or tratar de.

What is the difference between ‘intentar’ and ‘tratar de’?

They are often interchangeable. However, intentar focuses on the intent or the act of attempting, while tratar de often emphasizes the exertion or the “dealing with” aspect of the attempt.

How do I say ‘keep trying’ in Spanish?

You can say sigue intentando. The verb seguir (to continue) pairs with the gerund intentando to mean “keep trying.” You might also hear no te rindas (don’t give up).

Is ‘tratar’ without ‘de’ incorrect?

It is incorrect if you mean “to try to.” Tratar without de means “to treat” (like a doctor treats a patient) or “to deal with” a subject. The preposition de is essential for the meaning of “try.”

How do I say ‘try me’ in a challenging way?

If you are challenging someone, like “test my patience,” you might say ponme a prueba (put me to the test). This is an idiomatic way to express the English concept of “try me.”

Wrapping It Up – ‘Try’ in Spanish Translation

Mastering these verbs changes how you sound in Spanish. You move from a beginner translating words to a speaker conveying clear ideas. The difference between intentar and probar is the difference between attempting a task and tasting a meal. Keep these distinctions clear, practice the specific scenarios, and your Spanish will improve immediately.