Introduction
Learning how to say trying in Portuguese can be confusing because English uses one verb for different meanings. In Brazilian Portuguese, two verbs commonly translate as trying: provar and tentar. This article explains the difference, shows conjugations and real sentences, and gives tips on when to use each verb correctly.
- Overview: Provar vs Tentar
- Core Meanings and Examples
- When to Use Provar and When to Use Tentar
- Conjugation Patterns and Common Constructions
- Common Confusions and False Friends
- Expressions and Idioms with Provar and Tentar
- Cultural Notes and Usage in Brazil
- Synonyms and Related Verbs
- Practical Tips for Learners
- Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
- Conclusion
Overview: Provar vs Tentar
At a basic level, provar often means to taste or test something physically, while tentar means to attempt or try to do something. Both verbs can appear similar in English but have distinct uses in Portuguese.
Provar: prova, provar, provando, provado — used for tasting food, proving a hypothesis, testing a product, or showing evidence.
Tentar: tento, tentar, tentando, tentado — used for attempting, making an effort, or trying to accomplish an action.
Core Meanings and Examples
1. Provar meaning to taste or sample
The most common use of provar for learners is tasting food or drink. When you try a dish or sample a beverage, Brazilians typically use provar.
Examples:
Eu quero provar a caipirinha.
Você já provou brigadeiro?
Prove esse suco, está muito bom.
2. Provar meaning to test or prove
Besides tasting, provar can mean to test something or to provide proof. It is used when checking if something works or when presenting evidence.
Examples:
O engenheiro vai provar o modelo antes de construir.
Ela provou que estava certa com documentos.
Você pode provar a teoria no laboratório?
3. Tentar meaning to attempt or make an effort
Tentar is the go-to verb for trying to do an action, whether successful or not. It expresses effort, intention, or experiment with an action.
Examples:
Eu vou tentar aprender português todos os dias.
Ele tentou abrir a porta, mas estava trancada.
Você pode tentar de novo mais tarde?
4. Tentar in polite requests and offers
Tentar is also used in polite suggestions or requests when you encourage someone to try an action.
Examples:
Que tal você tentar falar com ela?
Tente usar outro caminho para o trabalho.
When to Use Provar and When to Use Tentar
To decide which verb to use, ask yourself whether the action involves tasting/testing a thing or making an attempt to perform a task.
Use provar when:
– You are tasting food or drink: Provar comida, provar vinho.
– You are testing an object or model: provar um protótipo.
– You are demonstrating or proving something: provar um ponto, provar uma teoria.
Use tentar when:
– You are attempting to carry out an action: tentar correr, tentar falar.
– You are offering or suggesting someone to attempt: tenta de novo.
– You are describing effort or repeated attempts: ele tentou três vezes.
Conjugation Patterns and Common Constructions
Below are some practical conjugations and how they appear in sentences. These will help you form natural phrases in different tenses.
Present tense
Provar: eu provo, você/ele prova, nós provamos, vocês/eles provam.
Tentar: eu tento, você/ele tenta, nós tentamos, vocês/eles tentam.
Examples:
Eu provo o peixe antes de comprar.
Ela tenta falar devagar para praticar.
Past (pretérito perfeito)
Provar: eu provei, você/ele provou, nós provamos, vocês/eles provaram.
Tentar: eu tentei, você/ele tentou, nós tentamos, vocês/eles tentaram.
Examples:
Ontem eu provei uma sobremesa nova.
Ele tentou entrar na festa, mas não conseguiu.
Imperfect (pretérito imperfeito)
Provar: eu provava, você/ele provava, nós provávamos, vocês/eles provavam.
Tentar: eu tentava, você/ele tentava, nós tentávamos, vocês/eles tentavam.
Examples:
Quando eu era criança, provava muitos doces diferentes.
Ela tentava aprender violão todos os meses.
Future (futuro do presente)
Provar: eu provarei, você/ele provará, nós provaremos, vocês/eles provarão.
Tentar: eu tentarei, você/ele tentará, nós tentaremos, vocês/eles tentarão.
Examples:
Na próxima viagem, nós provaremos comidas locais.
Eu tentarei terminar o trabalho hoje à noite.
Common Confusions and False Friends
English speakers sometimes use provar when they should use tentar because both translate as trying. Keep these distinctions in mind.
Confusion 1: Trying food vs trying to do something
Incorrect: Eu provei falar com ele.
Correct: Eu tentei falar com ele.
Explanation: Speaking with someone is an action, so use tentar. Use provar only for tasting or testing physical things or proving a point.
Confusion 2: Provar as to prove vs to try
Provar can mean to demonstrate or prove something, not to attempt. For evidence or legal contexts, provar means to show proof.
Example: O advogado provou a inocência do cliente.
Expressions and Idioms with Provar and Tentar
Both verbs appear in common Brazilian expressions. Learning these will make your Portuguese sound more natural.
With provar
Provar do próprio veneno — to taste your own poison, meaning to suffer consequences of your actions.
Provar que — to prove that; usado em contextos formais e informais.
Example: Ele provou do próprio veneno depois de mentir.
With tentar
Não tem nada a perder, tentar não custa nada — trying costs nothing, an encouragement to try.
Tentar a sorte — to try your luck.
Example: Vamos tentar a sorte na loteria só por diversão.
Cultural Notes and Usage in Brazil
Brazilians often use provar casually when offering food at gatherings or trying local specialties. When trying a new dish, hosts commonly say Prova isso or Experimenta isso, where experimentar is a synonym of provar in the tasting sense.
For actions and personal efforts, tentar appears everywhere: in work settings, sports, and conversations about learning. Brazilians might use diminutives and colloquial forms—like tenta aí or tenta de novo—to sound friendly and encouraging.
Synonyms and Related Verbs
It helps to know related verbs to avoid mistakes and expand vocabulary.
Experimentar
Often used as a synonym for provar when tasting, but also means to try or experiment in a broader sense. Example: Você já experimentou esse queijo?
Testar
Similar to testar in English, used like provar for technical testing. Example: Precisamos testar o sistema antes de lançar.
Ensaiar
Means to rehearse or practice, closer to a specific type of attempt and not interchangeable with provar for tasting. Example: A banda vai ensaiar hoje à noite.
Practical Tips for Learners
1. Associate provar with food and proof. Visualize tasting a bite or presenting evidence when you think of this verb.
2. Associate tentar with actions and attempts. Picture yourself trying to do something, even if you fail.
3. Use example sentences in real conversation: offer food with Prova isso; express effort with Vou tentar. Small repeated use builds confidence.
4. Be aware of synonyms like experimentar and testar to express similar ideas in different contexts.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
When thinking which verb to use, remember:
– If you mean taste or sample: use provar or experimentar.
– If you mean attempt or try to do something: use tentar.
– If you mean to prove or show evidence: use provar.
– For rehearsals and practice: use ensaiar; for technical tests: use testar.
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between provar and tentar will make your Portuguese clearer and more natural. Remember that provar relates to tasting, testing, or proving, while tentar expresses effort and attempts. Use the conjugations and example sentences from this article in real conversation, and soon choosing the right verb will become automatic.
