What is the difference between tratar and intentar?

Question

I know both of them are like 'to try' but what's the difference when you use them?

I replaced the double quotes with single quotes so I E users can click on your title. - KevinB, Dec 10, 2010

Like your avatar, Silly Chick!! ;)) - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 1

One difference: when followed by an infinitive verb, tratar is used with de.

Example:

Intenta abrir la puerta

Trata de abrir la puerta

Answer 2

They are not perfect synonyms (there is no such thing anyway), but what's the problem anyway? Why should it be there a difference? And even if there is, are you aware that between similar verbs there are over a million differences? Are you going to memorise them all? Will you be able to recall them all in real time while you speak? Your approach is destined to be either pointless or counter-productive, so why don't you try the more profitable "Can you give me as many sentences as possible with each verb, so you can judge where and when each verb is used (and don't be surprised if you can't find any significant difference)

Lazarus, I can't believe I'm actually having the audacity to "respectfully" disagree with you -- of all people!! - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

But it helps me a G R E A T deal to know what the nuances are in the mind of a native speaker when they hear the same sentence, but with two synonyms interchanged. As a matter of fact, personally, it is one of my greatest joys to make such a discovery! - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 3

La única diferencia que veo entre ambos verbos es que tratar se puede usar en el sentido de comunicarse o relacionarse( en cuyo caso no es sinónimo de intentar).

Algunos ejemplos de uso en los que tratar e intentar no son sinonimos:

El jefe le trató bastante mal.(=se comportó, se relacionó).Le llamó vago e idiota.

"El marido que trataba mal a su esposa fue detenido".(=maltrataba a su esposa,la pegaba…).

"El mejor modo de tratar la ansiedad es relajarse escuchando música." (tratar=convivir,relacionarse,curar ,solucionar).

"Con el fín de tratar(=resolver,solucionar) los casos de cólera,se ha creado un fondo de ayuda médica."

:) - FELIZ77, Nov 28, 2011

Hola, Jesús, long time no see!! And please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your gracious post!! - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 4

Tratar often means to deal with, or to have to do with, rather than to try, which would be intentar, though they can sometimes be used as synonyms.

Answer 5

I wonder if 'tratar de' is used more as 'to strive to' or 'to endeavour' to. In other words, an ongoing effort. And 'intentar' more as a one-time event?

Welcome to SpanishDict. This thread is from 2010. I don't think they are still looking for answers. I like your question, open a new question with it. :) - rac1, Feb 19, 2017

Answer 6

only tratar de means to try to. I

Answer 7

Here is a link to a discussion we had on "the many faces of 'to try'" in Spanish.

Thanks a gillion, Joyce, for reminding me of your thread. Still one of my favorites! - territurtle, Dec 12, 2011

Answer 8

Intentar = to try Tratar = to treat.

Answer 9

I wonder if 'tratar de' is used more as 'to strive to' or 'to endeavour' to. In other words, an ongoing effort. And 'intentar' more as a one-time event?

Since you didn´t start a new thread as Amber suggested, I will say here that the SD dictionary has translations for to strive to as hacer la lucha and to endeavour to as hacer el esfuerzo. We use both of these terms commonly and I have never felt much of a difference between the two, although hacer la lucha sounds slightly less formal. However, endeavour is a French word, so I don´t know how accurate the translation is to Spanish.

As far as a one time event is concerned, this is determined in present tense by the associated auxiliary verb or group of auxiliary verbs and in past tense by the use of preterite or imperfect past.

One difference between the two verbs that was never mentioned here back in 2010 is that only tratar is used in affairs of the heart, ie: Me gustaría tratarte (I would like to go on a date with you / Get to know you).