essaient de

try to

→ essayer
phrase Rare #29,927
try to A conjugated form of essayer de, used with a following infinitive. Essaient is used with ils or elles, and can mean “are trying to” depending on context.
FR: Ils essaient de comprendre le problème.
EN: They are trying to understand the problem.

Et qui essaient de ne pas se faire tuer.

And who are trying not to get killed.

— Zootopie 2 (2025)

Il y a des gens qui essaient de dormir!

There are people trying to sleep!

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Qu'est-ce que Tom et Mary essaient de faire?

What are Tom and Mary trying to do?

Ces gens essaient de nous tuer.

These people are trying to kill us.

— Indiana Jones et la dernière croisade (1989)

Surveille les gosses qui essaient de fumer dans la cour.

Keep an eye on the kids trying to smoke in the yard.

— La Vague (2008)

Les Mangemorts essaient de me recruter depuis plus d'un an.

The Death Eaters have been trying to recruit me for over a year.

— Harry Potter et le Prince de sang-mêlé (2009)

Les amateurs essaient de ramener les mecs vivants.

Amateurs are trying to bring the guys back alive.

— Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Qu'essaient de faire Tom et Mary?

What are Tom and Mary trying to do?

Non c'est pour les autres qui essaient de s'échapper.

No, it's for the others who are trying to escape.

— Insaisissables 3 (2025)

Nous sommes des adultes qui essaient de mener un projet.

We are adults trying to carry out a project.

— Oppenheimer (2023)