Intencional

Intencional is an adjective used in Spanish (and in related languages such as Portuguese) to express that something is done with intention or purpose. It describes actions, remarks, or attitudes that are deliberate, planned, or aimed at a specific result, as opposed to those that happen by accident or without conscious motivation. In everyday language, it is common to contrast “intencional” with terms like involuntario or accidental.

Etymology and usage. The word derives from Latin intentio and intendere, reflecting the idea of directing a act toward a goal. The suffix -al forms an adjective indicating a quality or characteristic. In general usage, intencional can modify nouns such as acto (intentionally performed act) or conduct, and it appears in phrases like actuar intencionalmente.

Philosophical and cognitive sense. In philosophy, especially phenomenology and cognitive science, the related noun intencionalidad (intentionality) refers to the aboutness or directedness of mental states toward objects, states of affairs, or contents. This sense is distinct from the everyday sense of acting with purpose; it concerns how thoughts, beliefs, desires, and perceptions are directed at something beyond themselves. The term “intencionalidad” became prominent in figures like Husserl and has since influenced discussions on perception, consciousness, and mental representation.

See also. Intención (intention), intencionalidad, and the distinction between intencional and involuntario are common cross-references in Spanish-language discussions of behavior, ethics, and philosophy.