pretender
/pre-ten-DARE/
to intend
A hiker with a clear goal in mind depicts the meaning 'to intend'.
pretender(verb)
to intend
?having a plan or goal
,to aim
?striving for a specific result
to try
?attempting to do something
,to want
?desiring a certain outcome
📝 In Action
Pretendo terminar mi carrera este año.
B1I intend to finish my degree this year.
¿Qué pretendes con ese comentario?
B1What are you aiming for with that comment?
💡 Grammar Points
Intent vs. Make-Believe
Unlike the English word 'pretend,' this Spanish word usually means you have a goal or intention, not that you are playing make-believe.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Friend Warning
Mistake: "Using 'pretender' to mean 'to act like a pirate' or 'to play-act'."
Correction: Use 'aparentar' (to seem) or 'hacerse el' (to act like) for English-style 'pretending'. Use 'pretender' when you mean 'I plan to'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Direct Verb Usage
You can follow 'pretender' directly with an infinitive (the base form of a verb) to say what you intend to do, like 'Pretendo viajar' (I intend to travel).
Asserting a bold claim to others illustrates the meaning 'to claim'.
pretender(verb)
to claim
?asserting something is true, often when others doubt it
to expect
?demanding or assuming something will happen
📝 In Action
No pretendas que no sabías nada.
B2Don't claim that you didn't know anything.
Ella pretende que le paguemos el doble.
B2She expects us to pay her double.
💡 Grammar Points
Claiming and the Subjunctive
When you use 'pretender que' to mean you expect someone else to do something, the verb that follows must change its form (the 'subjunctive' form), as in 'Pretende que yo vaya' (He expects me to go).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pretender
Question 1 of 2
If you say 'Pretendo comprar una casa,' what are you saying?
📚 More Resources
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.