aparentar
“aparentar” means “to look” in Spanish (referring to age).
to look, to pretend
Also: to show off, to feign
📝 In Action
Ella aparenta menos edad de la que tiene.
A2She looks younger than she actually is.
No tienes que aparentar que estás feliz si no lo estás.
B1You don't have to pretend that you're happy if you're not.
Mucha gente gasta dinero que no tiene solo por aparentar.
B2Many people spend money they don't have just to show off.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aparentar
Question 1 of 3
How would you say 'He looks 40'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'apparentare', which means 'to bring to light' or 'to make manifest'. It shares the same root as the English word 'apparent'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'aparentar' to say 'it seems like it will rain'?
No, for general impressions like the weather, 'parecer' is better. Say 'Parece que va a llover'.
Is 'aparentar' always negative?
Not necessarily, but it often implies a gap between appearance and reality. Using it for age is neutral, but using it for wealth often implies showing off.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard conjugation patterns for all verbs ending in -ar.