Inklingo
← Dictionary

pretender

pre-ten-DAREpɾetenˈdeɾ

“pretender” means “to intend” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to intend, to aim

Also: to try, to want
VerbB1regular er
A person looking at a mountain peak with a backpack, ready to start their climb.
gerundpretendiendo
past Participlepretendido
infinitivepretender

📝 In Action

Pretendo terminar mi carrera este año.

B1

I intend to finish my degree this year.

¿Qué pretendes con ese comentario?

B1

What are you aiming for with that comment?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pretender que – to expect/claim that
  • sin pretenderlo – unintentionally

to claim

Also: to expect
VerbB2regular er
A child pointing at a large fish they caught, showing it to a skeptical friend.
gerundpretendiendo
past Participlepretendido
infinitivepretender

📝 In Action

No pretendas que no sabías nada.

B2

Don't claim that you didn't know anything.

Ella pretende que le paguemos el doble.

B2

She expects us to pay her double.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pretender tener razón – to claim to be right

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespretendieran
yopretendiera
túpretendieras
vosotrospretendierais
nosotrospretendiéramos
él/ella/ustedpretendiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespretendan
yopretenda
túpretendas
vosotrospretendáis
nosotrospretendamos
él/ella/ustedpretenda

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedespretendieron
yopretendí
túpretendiste
vosotrospretendisteis
nosotrospretendimos
él/ella/ustedpretendió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedespretendían
yopretendía
túpretendías
vosotrospretendíais
nosotrospretendíamos
él/ella/ustedpretendía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedespretenden
yopretendo
túpretendes
vosotrospretendéis
nosotrospretendemos
él/ella/ustedpretende
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pretender" in Spanish:

to aim→to claim→to expect→to intend→to try→to want→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pretender

Question 1 of 2

If you say 'Pretendo comprar una casa,' what are you saying?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pretendiente(suitor / candidate) — Noun
pretensión(aim / claim) — Noun
pretencioso(pretentious) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'praetendere', which literally meant 'to stretch out in front'. This evolved from physically stretching something out to metaphorically 'reaching for' a goal or 'putting forward' a claim.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: prétendreItalian: pretendere

💡 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

Does 'pretender' ever mean 'to pretend' in the English sense?

Rarely. It can mean 'to claim' (e.g., 'He claims to be rich'), which is close, but for 'playing make-believe' or 'faking an emotion,' Spanish uses 'fingir' or 'aparentar'.

Is it a formal word?

It is neutral. You can use it with friends when talking about plans, but it also appears in legal or formal writing when discussing claims.