How to Say "to fake" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to fake” is “imitar” — use 'imitar' when you want to say that something is a copy or replica of something else, often referring to manufactured goods or materials that resemble the real thing..
imitar
/ee-mee-TAHR//imiˈtaɾ/
Examples
Este suelo de vinilo imita la madera perfectamente.
This vinyl floor resembles wood perfectly.
Es una joya barata que imita el oro.
It is a cheap piece of jewelry that simulates gold.
La luz artificial intenta imitar la luz del sol.
The artificial light tries to mimic sunlight.
No 'Personal A' for Things
When talking about materials (like wood or gold), you do NOT use the word 'a'. Example: 'Imita la madera' (It looks like wood).
simular
/see-moo-LAHR//simuˈlaɾ/
Examples
Ella intentó simular sorpresa, pero ya sabía el secreto.
She tried to pretend to be surprised, but she already knew the secret.
El jugador cayó al suelo para simular una falta.
The player fell to the ground to fake a foul.
No tienes que simular que te gusta la comida si no es así.
You don't have to pretend that you like the food if you don't.
Direct Connections
Unlike the English 'pretend to,' the word 'simular' is often followed directly by an infinitive (verb form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir) without needing a connector like 'a'.
Pretending something is happening
If you want to say someone is pretending 'that' something is happening, use 'simular que' followed by a normal sentence.
Using 'pretender' instead
Mistake: “Pretendo estar enfermo.”
Correction: Simulo estar enfermo. In Spanish, 'pretender' means 'to aim for' or 'to intend,' not to fake something.
Imitar vs. Simular
Related Translations
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