tratar
to treat
A versatile verb built around the core idea of "treating" someone or something
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
visual
treat
to treat
+
-ar
verb suffix
Tratar means to treat and is a direct cognate of the English word — every major sense maps onto a way English uses "treat" too.
tratar
to treat
To behave toward someone in a certain way — just like in English, "to treat someone well or badly."
Hay que tratar a los demás con respetoYou have to treat others with respect
Me trató muy mal durante toda la reuniónHe treated me very badly throughout the whole meeting
to treat (medical)
To apply remedies or medical care to a patient or illness — exactly like English "treat" in a medical context.
El médico la trató con antibióticosThe doctor treated her with antibiotics
Este hospital trata enfermedades tropicalesThis hospital treats tropical diseases
to address, to deal with, to cover (a topic)
To handle or address a topic in speech or writing — like when English says a book "treats" a subject.
El libro trata varios temas históricosThe book addresses several historical topics
Trataremos este asunto en la próxima reuniónWe will deal with this matter at the next meeting
to treat, to process (chemical / industrial)
To subject a substance or material to a process — again, like English "treat" in a technical context (e.g. "treated water").
El agua se trata con cloro antes de distribuirseThe water is treated with chlorine before being distributed
Tratan los metales a altas temperaturasThey process the metals at high temperatures
tratar con
to deal with, to work with
To interact or do business with someone — treating with them, in the old sense of negotiating or engaging.
No me gusta tratar con ese proveedorI don't like dealing with that supplier
Trato con clientes difíciles todos los díasI work with difficult clients every day
tratar de
to try, to attempt
To treat yourself to doing something — i.e. to make an attempt at it.
Trato de llegar a tiempo todos los díasI try to arrive on time every day
Trató de no reírse durante el discursoShe tried not to laugh during the speech
tratarse de
to be about, to concern
The reflexive flips the focus: instead of you treating a topic, the thing itself "presents" what it's about. Think of it as asking "what does this concern?"
No se trata de dinero, se trata de principiosIt's not about money, it's about principles
¿De qué se trata la película?What is the movie about?