Probar vs intentar: key differences in Spanish

The short answer

Probar means to taste, try on, sample, or test something. Intentar means to attempt an action, to try to do something. English uses one word, “try,” for both ideas, which is why Spanish learners often mix them up.

Core meaning: object vs action

The split is simple once you see it. Probar usually takes a thing as its object: food, clothes, a method, a product. Intentar usually takes an infinitive: the action you are trying to carry out.

Probar: taste, try on, sample, and test

Use probar when you put something to the test with your senses or in practice. You taste soup, try on a shirt, sample a dish at a market, or test whether a plan works.

Example sentences:

• Voy a probar la sopa. (I’m going to taste the soup.)
• ¿Puedo probar este vestido? (Can I try on this dress?)
• Quiero probar el queso antes de comprarlo. (I want to sample the cheese before buying it.)
• Vamos a probar un método nuevo. (We’re going to test a new method.)

Intentar: attempt and try to do

Use intentar when you make an effort toward a goal or action. The verb that follows is almost always an infinitive: try to open, try to speak, try to finish.

Example sentences:

• Voy a intentar abrir la puerta. (I’m going to try to open the door.)
• Ella intenta hablar español todos los días. (She tries to speak Spanish every day.)
• Intentamos llegar a tiempo, pero había tráfico. (We tried to arrive on time, but there was traffic.)
• No intentes hacerlo solo. (Don’t try to do it alone.)

Common patterns that help you choose

Most mistakes disappear once you match the grammar pattern to the meaning you want.

Probar + noun (the thing you sample or test)

After probar, you name what you are tasting, wearing, sampling, or testing. Think: “try this” (the thing), not “try to do something.”

• ¿Has probado el gazpacho? (Have you tried gazpacho? / tasted it?)
• Probé tres zapatos y compré los rojos. (I tried on three pairs of shoes and bought the red ones.)
• Hay que probar la aplicación antes del lanzamiento. (You have to test the app before launch.)

Intentar + infinitive (the action you attempt)

After intentar, use the infinitive of the verb you are attempting. If you can say “try to + verb” in English, intentar is usually the right choice.

• Intento estudiar una hora cada día. (I try to study one hour each day.)
• ¿Intentaste llamarla? (Did you try to call her?)
• Vamos a intentar resolverlo juntos. (We’re going to try to solve it together.)

Probar vs intentar at a glance

Use this table as a quick check when English “try” could go either way.

Verb	Typical meaning	What follows	Example
probar	taste, try on, sample, test	a noun (la sopa, el vestido, un método)	Voy a probar la sopa.
intentar	attempt, try to do	an infinitive (abrir, hablar, dormir)	Voy a intentar abrir la puerta.
English “try”	covers both meanings	context decides in Spanish	“Try the soup” vs “Try to open the door”

Mini-traps and how to avoid them

These are the errors English speakers make most often when both ideas collapse into one word.

• Trap 1: Saying Intentar la sopa when you mean “try the soup.” Use Probar la sopa (taste or sample it).
• Trap 2: Saying Probar abrir la puerta when you mean “try to open the door.” Use Intentar abrir la puerta.
• Trap 3: Confusing “try on” with “attempt.” Clothes and shoes take probar: Probarse el abrigo or Probar el abrigo. Opening a window takes intentar.
• Trap 4: Using intentar for food you have never eaten. “Have you tried paella?” is ¿Has probado la paella?, not ¿Has intentado la paella?

Practice idea (fast)

Pick the verb for each English prompt. Say the full Spanish sentence out loud before you peek at the answer.

• “Try the cake.” (taste it) → Prueba el pastel.
• “Try to sleep.” (attempt the action) → Intenta dormir.
• “Can I try on these jeans?” → ¿Puedo probar estos vaqueros?
• “We tried to finish on time.” → Intentamos terminar a tiempo.
• “I want to test this app.” → Quiero probar esta aplicación.

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