tentare

Tentare is an Italian verb that most commonly means to attempt or to try something. It is used with the infinitive to indicate trying to accomplish a task, as in tentare di fare qualcosa. The phrase tentare la sorte is a familiar expression meaning to tempt fate or to take a risk. In some contexts the verb can carry a sense of enticing or provoking, but its primary usage remains exercising an attempt or test.

Etymology and related forms. The Italian tentare derives from the Latin tentāre, a root shared with other Romance languages. Cognate verbs appear in French (tenter), Spanish (tentar), and Portuguese (tentar), all with core senses of trying or tempting. The word is widely used across formal and colloquial registers in modern Italian.

Grammar and usage. Tentare is a regular -are verb and follows standard conjugation patterns. Present indicative forms are io tento, tu tenti, lui/lei tenta, noi tentiamo, voi tentate, loro tentano. The infinitive is tentare, the gerund tentando, and the past participle tentato. Common constructions include tentare di + infinitive for ordinary attempts, and past tenses such as ho tentato to indicate a completed attempt. In addition to its primary sense of trying, the expression tentare la sorte is frequently used to describe taking a risk or tempting fate.

See also. In Romance languages, cognate verbs—tentar (Portuguese, Spanish), tenter (French)—share the same core meaning of attempting or tempting, illustrating a common Latin heritage.