Spanish grammar · Intermediate
Tratar De + Infinitive: How to Say Try To in Spanish
Periphrastic meaning to try to or attempt to. Conjugate tratar (regular -ar verb) in any tense, add de, follow with an infinitive. Common for expressing effort without certainty of success.
Trato de aprender español todos los días.
I try to learn Spanish every day.
What it is
Tratar de + infinitive is the standard Spanish way to express to try to or to attempt to. Conjugate tratar (regular -ar verb) in any tense, add de (mandatory), then any infinitive. Used when expressing effort or attempt, with no guarantee of success.
In Trato de aprender español todos los días (I try to learn Spanish every day), trato is the present yo form of tratar, de is the connector, and aprender is the infinitive. The construction expresses ongoing effort.
How to spot it
Look for tratar + de + infinitive. The de is mandatory. The synonym intentar (to attempt) also works with + infinitive but doesn't take de: intento aprender (vs. trato de aprender).
- Trato de entender. — I try to understand.
- Traté de llamarte. — I tried to call you.
- Trata de descansar. — Try to rest.
Don't confuse tratar de + infinitive (try to) with tratar de + noun (to deal with / be about): el libro trata de un asesinato (the book is about a murder). Context distinguishes the two.
Tratar de + Infinitive Quick Reference
Tratar de across tenses
| Tense | yo form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | trato de + inf. | I try to... |
| Preterite | traté de + inf. | I tried to... |
| Imperfect | trataba de + inf. | I was trying to... |
| Future | trataré de + inf. | I'll try to... |
| Conditional | trataría de + inf. | I would try to... |
| Subjunctive | trate de + inf. | (that) I try to... |
Common Tratar de + Infinitive Examples in Spanish
Tratar de covers effort, attempt, and trying. Used in any context where you're making an effort but the outcome isn't guaranteed.
Ongoing Efforts
- Trato de comer sano.
- I try to eat healthy.
- Tratamos de mantener la calma.
- We try to stay calm.
- Trata de no preocuparse.
- He tries not to worry.
- Tratan de aprender un idioma.
- They're trying to learn a language.
- Siempre trato de ser puntual.
- I always try to be punctual.
Habits or ongoing efforts where the speaker is making an effort without claiming success take tratar de + infinitive.
Past Attempts
- Traté de llamarte pero no contestaste.
- I tried to call you but you didn't answer.
- Trataron de venir pero no pudieron.
- They tried to come but couldn't.
- Traté de explicarle pero no entendió.
- I tried to explain to him but he didn't understand.
- Tratamos de arreglar el coche.
- We tried to fix the car.
- Trataste de ayudar.
- You tried to help.
Past attempts, often paired with conjunctions like pero (but) when the attempt didn't succeed.
Recommendations and Advice
- Trata de dormir más.
- Try to sleep more.
- Trate de no llegar tarde.
- Try not to arrive late.
- Traten de hacer ejercicio.
- Try to exercise.
- Trata de relajarte.
- Try to relax.
- Trata de ser amable.
- Try to be kind.
Imperative forms (commands and advice) commonly use tratar de + infinitive for gentle suggestions.
Comparison: Tratar De vs. Intentar
- Trato de aprender. = Intento aprender.
- I try to learn. (same meaning)
- Trataré de venir mañana. = Intentaré venir mañana.
- I'll try to come tomorrow.
- Trata de entender. = Intenta entender.
- Try to understand.
- Tratamos de ayudar. = Intentamos ayudar.
- We try to help.
- No trates de engañarme. = No intentes engañarme.
- Don't try to deceive me.
Tratar de and intentar are interchangeable in most contexts. Tratar de takes de; intentar takes a direct infinitive (no preposition).
How Tratar De Works
Structure: Tratar + De + Infinitive
Conjugate tratar (regular -ar verb, no stem changes) in any tense, add de (always the same), then an infinitive.
Trato / traté / trataba + de + estudiar.
Tense changes only on tratar.
Tratar + de + infinitive.
Tratar Has Other Meanings
Tratar without de has different meanings: to treat (people, illness, topics): trato a mis empleados con respeto (I treat my employees with respect). Tratar de + noun = to be about: el libro trata de la guerra (the book is about the war). Only tratar de + infinitive means to try to.
Trato a mis amigos (treat). Trato de estudiar (try). El libro trata de... (is about).
Tratar has multiple meanings.
Tratar de + infinitive = try to.
Intentar Is a Synonym
Intentar + infinitive (no preposition) means the same as tratar de + infinitive: to try / attempt. Both are interchangeable in most contexts. Some speakers feel intentar is slightly more deliberate or committed; tratar de is more general.
Trato de = intento.
Synonyms with same meaning.
Intentar = no preposition; tratar = with de.
Tratar Is Regular
Tratar follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern with no stem changes or spelling rules: trato, tratas, trata, tratamos, tratáis, tratan; traté, trataste, trató, etc. Predictable across all tenses.
trato, traté, trataba, trataré, trate.
All regular forms.
No conjugation surprises.
Common Mistakes with Tratar de + Infinitive
Incorrect: Trato aprender español. — I try to learn Spanish. (wrong, missing de)
Correct: Trato de aprender español. — I try to learn Spanish.
Tratar requires the preposition de before the infinitive in the try to meaning. Without de, the sentence is grammatically incomplete or carries a different meaning.
Incorrect: Intento de aprender español. — I try to learn Spanish. (wrong, extra de with intentar)
Correct: Intento aprender español. — I try to learn Spanish.
Intentar (synonym of tratar de) takes a direct infinitive without de. Only tratar takes de. Adding de to intentar is a hypercorrection.
Incorrect: Trato de aprendiendo español. — I try to learn Spanish. (wrong, gerund instead of infinitive)
Correct: Trato de aprender español. — I try to learn Spanish.
After tratar de, use the infinitive (aprender), not the gerund (aprendiendo). Spanish periphrastic constructions use infinitives.
Tratar de + Infinitive FAQs
- How do I say try to do something in Spanish?
- Tratar de + infinitive (or intentar + infinitive). Conjugate tratar in any tense, add de, then the infinitive. Trato de aprender (I try to learn). Traté de llamarte (I tried to call you).
- What's the difference between tratar de and intentar?
- Both mean to try / attempt and are interchangeable in most contexts. Tratar takes de before the infinitive (trato de aprender); intentar takes a direct infinitive (intento aprender). Some speakers feel intentar is slightly more committed; tratar de is more general.
- Does tratar mean other things besides try?
- Yes. Tratar a + person = to treat someone (trato a mis amigos con respeto). Tratar de + noun = to be about (el libro trata de un crimen). Tratar + topic = to handle / discuss. Only tratar de + infinitive specifically means to try to.
- Can I use tratar without de or a noun object?
- Tratar alone is rare; it usually appears with a (treat someone), de + noun (be about), de + infinitive (try to), or con + thing (to deal with). Standalone tratar doesn't carry a clear meaning.
- How can I learn tratar de naturally?
- Effort and attempt are constant in conversation. Parrot's short-form videos surface trato de aprender / traté de llamar / trata de descansar in real contexts, so the construction becomes automatic with exposure.