The many faces of "to try" in Spanish

Question

I am learning that Spanish is a more complex and sensitive language than English.

Today I am trying to understand the many ways to express the verb "to try" in Spanish (and it is trying my patience). The verb has many faces!

My Colombian mother-in-law had an [removed]un dicho) that translated meant, "I would break rocks in the hot sun as long as I had someone to do it with me.

So, let's try this together.

When you go to the [dictionary][2], here are just some of the ways to express "try" in Spanish:

1. Intentar - to attempt
2. Probar - to test, to taste
3. Ver - to try a law
4. Juzgar - to try a person in court
5. Probarse - to try on
6. Poner a prueba - to test a person or your patience
7. Medirse -- to measure, to try on
8. Experimentar -- to try by experimentation
9. Tentar - to examine by touch
10. Purificar - to purify a metal
11. Tratar -- to treat, to handle
12. Procurar -- to adopt measures for obtaining, to try

So, let's make this a game...

1. Write a sentence in English using the word "try."
2. Write a translation in Spanish that correctly uses one of the Spanish verbs above or another that you know about.

3. Post a picture, if you can, to make it interesting

   [2]: http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/to try

I changed the category...not that I was paying attention to that either, though. - webdunce, Sep 30, 2010

Joyce, please read your PM. - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

Great joyce on moderating the thread yourself! :-) - 00494d19, Sep 30, 2010

Nice thread, Joyce. Thanks! - MLucie, Jul 28, 2011

Bless you, Joyce, because this is one of my first tasks in any new language to manage the troublesome "try!!" - territurtle, Jul 28, 2011

Oh so true Joyce , great thread! - pacofinkler, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 1

Estoy tratando de hacer un pastel pero mi intento está poniendo a prueba la paciencia.

I'm trying to make a cake, but my try is trying my patience.

I think that you need to say "estoy tratando DE..." - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

¿puedo probo tu pastel cuadno este es listo? - elainepnj, Jul 28, 2011

Wow! Three in one sentence. You get my vote! - MLucie, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 2

¡Prentendía entrar sin pagar! He was trying to get in without paying!

Answer 3

Tenté las manzanas porque odio cuando como una podrida

I felt the apples because I hate when I eat a rotten one.

Can I say "Rotten one" like that in spanish?

I'm fairly certain your "come" needs to be in the first person: "como" - JoyceM, Sep 30, 2010

"las" manzanas - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 4

The movie, 12 Angry Men, is about a man being tried for murder by a jury of his peers and the dynamics of the jury behind closed doors.

La película, 12 Hombres Enojados, se trata de un hombre es juzgado por asesinato por un jurado de sus eguales y la dinámica del jurado detras a puerta cerrada.

Enojados - --Mariana--, Oct 1, 2010

Answer 5

Are you trying to be trying or does it just come naturally?

Are you trying to try?

Absolutely no idea how to write these in Spanish.

Just try. - JoyceM, Oct 1, 2010

Answer 6

¡Estoy tratando de manejarlo!

I'm trying to manage it!

I think that you need to say "estoy tratando DE..." - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

de manejarlo, de conseguirlo - 00494d19, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 7

I'm going to try to do it, but I'm not making any promises.

Voy a tratar de hacerlo, pero no te prometo nada.

prometo nada - 00494d19, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 8

Me gusta el ir de compras; no me molesta probar la ropa...

I like shopping; trying on clothes doesn't bother me...

I think you might need to use "probarse" since the clothes are going on your body. - JoyceM, Sep 30, 2010

Thanks Joyce, I thought of that, but it didn't sound right to me, because I've already used "me" in "me molesta"... - luz_72, Sep 30, 2010

or "no me molesta medirme la ropa" - Mokay, Sep 30, 2010

medirme, not in spain, seems to be regional, thanks mokay, interesting, in Spain, probarme, probar is ok though - 00494d19, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 9

Actually, to me it is just the opposite. Imagine the difficulties a Spanish person must have trying to figure out how the English TRY works...it can mean so many different things depending on context. Of course, they get us right back with SE.

Oh, I didn't realize it was a game.

Yes, it's a game...come play with us! - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

Just you wait...for my next attempt, I'm going to do "get"! - JoyceM, Sep 30, 2010

Laughed myself silly with your mention of that danged "se!" - territurtle, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 10

Don't test her patience. She is not that cool as she looks.

No ponerla a prueba. Ella no tiene sangre fría como la parecía.

No la pongas a prueba. No tiene tan sangre fría como parece. - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

She is not as cool as she looks - dewclaw, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 11

Trato de tener paciencia con mi hijo pero es difícil a veces.

I try to be patient with my son but it is difficult at times.

A semi-colon is better for joining two independent clauses than a comma. Or, you could keep the comma and add a "but." - JoyceM, Sep 30, 2010

Thanks Joyce, I'll add the conjunction and get rid of the comma. I don't think it is needed now. At least not with the english construction. - MattM, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 12

Pruebalo. Te lo gustará.

Try it. You will like it.

Is this in Phrasebook? If not, it should be! - territurtle, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 13

Lo ententaré, pero necesito su ayuda.

I will try (it), but I need your help.

:-) - --Mariana--, Sep 30, 2010

lo intentaré - 00494d19, Sep 30, 2010

God bless Heidita, the angel on my shoulder. - JoyceM, Oct 1, 2010

Love your photo!! - territurtle, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 14

English: Good try!

Español: ¡Buen intento!

Answer 15

Procurar is not included in the list of "TRY"??

Dos veses por semana voy al restaurante. También procuro comer varias nuevas platas.

You go, Miro!! ;) - territurtle, Jul 28, 2011

:)) - Miro74, Jul 28, 2011

I'll add it. I don't know how I missed that one. Thanks! - JoyceM, Jul 28, 2011