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A2 verb #2,500 الأكثر شيوعاً 8 دقيقة للقراءة

pretender

Primary meaning: to intend, to try.

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic meaning of 'pretender': to intend to do something. Think of it as a slightly more formal version of 'querer' (to want) or 'ir a' (going to). At this stage, you will mostly use it with an infinitive. For example, 'Pretendo estudiar español' (I intend to study Spanish). You should also be aware that it does NOT mean 'to pretend' like in a game, which is a common mistake for English speakers. Keep your sentences simple and focus on using it to express your plans or goals for the day or the near future. Don't worry about the complex 'pretender que' structures yet; just practice 'Pretendo + verb'.
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At the A2 level, you can start using 'pretender' to describe more specific intentions and goals. You should be able to use it in the present tense and the simple past (pretendí/pretendía). For example, 'Ayer pretendía ir al cine, pero no tuve tiempo' (Yesterday I intended to go to the cinema, but I didn't have time). You should also begin to recognize it in reading passages where it describes the aim of a project or a person's ambition. This is a good time to contrast it with 'intentar' (to try). Remember: 'intentar' is the effort, 'pretender' is the plan. If you are applying for a job, you might say 'Pretendo este puesto' (I am aiming for this position).
At the B1 level, you must master the 'Pretender que + Subjunctive' construction. This is a key part of intermediate Spanish. When you want to express what you expect or intend for someone else to do, you use the subjunctive. 'Pretendo que mi hermano me ayude' (I intend/expect my brother to help me). You should also be comfortable using 'pretender' in the future and conditional tenses to discuss hypothetical goals. '¿Qué pretenderías lograr con ese cambio?' (What would you intend to achieve with that change?). At this level, you should also be aware of the 'false friend' aspect and consistently use 'fingir' when you mean 'to pretend'.
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At the B2 level, you should use 'pretender' with more nuance in formal and professional contexts. You will encounter it frequently in news articles, business reports, and formal letters. It is used to describe the objectives of organizations or the claims made by individuals. You should be able to use it to express a sense of 'claiming' or 'asserting' a right. For example, 'Él pretende que se le reconozca su autoría' (He claims that his authorship should be recognized). You should also understand the slightly more abstract uses, such as 'No pretendo tener la razón' (I don't claim to be right). Your use of the subjunctive with this verb should be automatic and accurate.
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At the C1 level, you should be familiar with the more literary and archaic uses of 'pretender', such as courtship ('pretender a alguien'). You should also be able to distinguish between the subtle shades of meaning it takes on in legal and philosophical texts. For instance, in a legal context, 'la pretensión' (the noun form) refers to a specific legal claim or demand. You should be able to use 'pretender' to express complex intentions and subtle social maneuvers. You might use it rhetorically: '¿Cómo pretendes que crea eso?' (How do you expect me to believe that?). Your vocabulary should include related words like 'pretendiente', 'pretensión', and 'pretencioso', and you should use them with precision.
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At the C2 level, you have a complete command of 'pretender' in all its registers. You can use it in highly formal academic writing to describe the scope and aims of a thesis or research paper. You understand its use in historical texts where it might refer to a 'pretender' to a throne (un pretendiente al trono). You can use it with irony or sarcasm in sophisticated conversation. You are also aware of regional variations in its usage across the Spanish-speaking world. You can effortlessly switch between 'pretender', 'aspirar', 'reivindicar', and 'postular' depending on the exact nuance required by the context. Your mastery includes the ability to use it in complex sentence structures involving multiple clauses and advanced subjunctive forms.
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pretender في 30 ثانية

  • Pretender means 'to intend' or 'to aim for'.
  • It is a false friend; it NEVER means 'to pretend' (faking).
  • Use 'pretender + infinitive' for your own goals.
  • Use 'pretender que + subjunctive' for what you expect from others.

The Spanish verb pretender is one of the most notorious 'false friends' for English speakers. While it looks identical to the English word 'pretend,' its core meaning revolves around intention, aspiration, and claims. When a Spanish speaker uses pretender, they are usually expressing a goal or an objective they are trying to achieve. It is not about faking a reality (which would be fingir), but rather about aiming for a specific outcome. This nuance is critical because using it incorrectly can lead to significant misunderstandings in professional and personal contexts.

Primary Intent
To have the intention of doing something or achieving a goal.
Aspiration
To aspire to a position, a job, or a romantic relationship.
Assertion
To claim that something is true, often in a legal or formal context.

No pretendo ofenderte, solo quiero darte mi opinión sincera sobre el proyecto.

Translation: I don't intend to offend you, I just want to give you my sincere opinion.

In its most common everyday usage, pretender is followed by an infinitive. For example, 'Pretendo terminar hoy' means 'I intend to finish today.' It carries a weight of purpose. Unlike 'intentar' (to try), which focuses on the effort, pretender focuses on the underlying plan or expectation. It suggests that the speaker has a specific vision of what should happen. This is why in formal Spanish, you will often see it used to describe what a law or a policy 'aims' to do.

La nueva ley pretende reducir las emisiones de carbono en un veinte por ciento.

Translation: The new law aims to reduce carbon emissions by twenty percent.

Historically, pretender also had a strong romantic connotation, meaning 'to court' or 'to woo' someone. While this is less common in modern urban slang, you will still encounter it in literature, period dramas, or formal speech when someone is 'pretending' to the hand of another in marriage. In this context, a 'pretendiente' is a suitor. This historical layer adds a sense of 'seeking' or 'claiming' to the word that persists in its modern legal and formal uses.

¿Qué pretendes con esa actitud tan desafiante ante el jefe?

Translation: What are you aiming for/trying to achieve with that defiant attitude toward the boss?
Legal Usage
To claim a right or title in a court of law.
Social Nuance
Can sometimes imply a sense of entitlement or an ambitious goal.

Finally, it is important to note the structure when the subject changes. If I intend for you to do something, we use 'pretender que' followed by the subjunctive: 'Pretendo que tú lo hagas' (I intend/expect you to do it). This usage often carries a tone of expectation or even a slight demand, making it more forceful than a simple 'quiero que'.

No puedes pretender que todo el mundo esté de acuerdo contigo siempre.

Translation: You can't expect/claim that everyone will always agree with you.

Using pretender correctly requires understanding its syntactic patterns. It is a regular -er verb, which makes conjugation straightforward, but its meaning shifts slightly depending on what follows it. The most common construction is Pretender + Infinitivo. This is used when the person intending and the person performing the action are the same.

  • Pretendo viajar (I intend to travel).
  • Pretendemos comprar (We intend to buy).
  • Pretendían salir (They were intending to leave).

When the intention involves another person, the structure changes to Pretender + que + Subjuntivo. This is a higher-level grammatical point (B1/B2) but essential for fluency. Because pretender expresses a wish or an influence over another's actions, the subjunctive is mandatory. For example: 'El profesor pretende que los alumnos estudien más' (The teacher intends/expects the students to study more).

¿Pretendes que yo pague toda la cuenta?

Translation: Do you expect me to pay the whole bill?

Another important use is the transitive use (Pretender + Sustantivo). This usually means to aspire to something, like a job or a position. 'Él pretende el puesto de gerente' (He is aspiring to the manager position). In this context, it is synonymous with aspirar a or buscar. It sounds more formal and determined than simply saying 'quiere el puesto'.

In negative sentences, no pretender is a very common way to clarify intentions and avoid conflict. It functions as a linguistic 'softener'. If you say something that might be taken the wrong way, you can follow up with 'No pretendo ser grosero' (I don't mean to be rude). This is a vital social tool in Spanish-speaking environments.

When discussing the past, the imperfect 'pretendía' is often used to describe intentions that were ongoing or perhaps didn't come to fruition. 'Yo pretendía ir, pero me enfermé' (I was intending to go, but I got sick). The preterite 'pretendí' is used for a specific moment of intention or a failed attempt: 'Pretendí explicarle, pero no me escuchó' (I tried/intended to explain to him, but he didn't listen).

You will encounter pretender in a variety of settings, ranging from formal business meetings to intense emotional discussions. In professional environments, it is the standard word for discussing project goals, strategic objectives, and career aspirations. A company might state in its mission: 'Esta empresa pretende liderar el mercado tecnológico' (This company aims to lead the tech market).

In legal and administrative contexts, pretender is used to describe claims. If someone is suing for damages, the legal documents will describe what the plaintiff 'pretende' (claims or seeks). This is a very specific, high-register use of the word that you will see in newspapers when reporting on court cases or political disputes.

El demandante pretende una indemnización por los daños causados.

Translation: The plaintiff is claiming compensation for the damages caused.

In literature and film, especially in period pieces, you will hear it in the context of courtship. A man might be described as 'el joven que pretende a la hija del conde' (the young man who is courting the count's daughter). While you won't hear this much in a modern nightclub, it remains a staple of the Spanish language's romantic vocabulary in art.

On social media and in daily conversation, it often appears in rhetorical questions or expressions of disbelief. When someone makes an unreasonable request, a common response is: '¿Qué pretendes?' (What are you playing at? / What do you expect?). It carries a tone of 'What is your end game here?'

The number one mistake English speakers make is using pretender to mean 'to pretend' (to simulate or fake). This is a classic false friend. If you say 'Pretendo estar enfermo' to mean 'I'm pretending to be sick,' a Spanish speaker will understand 'I intend to be sick,' which makes no sense. To say 'to pretend,' you must use fingir or aparentar.

  • Wrong: Él pretende ser un doctor (meaning he's faking it).
  • Right: Él finge ser un doctor.
  • Right: Él pretende ser doctor (meaning he aspires/intends to become one).

Another common error is forgetting the subjunctive after 'pretender que'. Because this construction expresses a desire or influence over another person, the indicative is grammatically incorrect. 'Pretendo que tú vienes' is wrong; it must be 'Pretendo que tú vengas'.

Confusing pretender with intentar is also frequent. While they are similar, intentar is more about the physical or mental effort of trying ('Intenté abrir la puerta'), whereas pretender is about the goal or the plan ('Pretendía abrir un negocio'). Using pretender for simple physical actions can sound overly formal or slightly strange.

To truly master pretender, you must know how it relates to its synonyms and near-synonyms. Each has a slightly different flavor.

Intentar
The most common word for 'to try.' It focuses on the attempt itself. Use this for physical actions or simple tasks.
Aspirar (a)
To aspire to. This is very close to the 'ambition' sense of pretender but is always followed by 'a'. 'Aspiro a ser jefe.'
Procurar
To try to ensure or to manage to do something. It often implies taking care to make something happen. 'Procura llegar a tiempo.'
Planear
To plan. This is more about the logistics and steps than the raw intention.
Fingir
The actual translation for 'to pretend.' This is about deception or acting.

Comparing pretender and querer: Querer is a simple desire ('Quiero un café'), while pretender implies a more structured intention or a claim ('Pretendo que se me respete'). Pretender is often more formal and carries more weight in a professional or legal context.

No es lo mismo intentar ganar que pretender ganar. Lo primero es el esfuerzo, lo segundo es el objetivo declarado.

How Formal Is It?

رسمي

""

غير رسمي

""

مستوى الصعوبة

قواعد يجب معرفتها

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أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Yo pretendo comer sano.

I intend to eat healthy.

Pretender + infinitive.

2

¿Qué pretendes hacer hoy?

What do you intend to do today?

Question form with 'qué'.

3

Nosotros pretendemos aprender español.

We intend to learn Spanish.

First person plural present.

4

Ella pretende viajar a Madrid.

She intends to travel to Madrid.

Third person singular present.

5

No pretendo molestar.

I don't intend to bother (you).

Negative form for politeness.

6

Ellos pretenden comprar una casa.

They intend to buy a house.

Third person plural.

7

¿Pretendes salir ahora?

Do you intend to go out now?

Second person singular.

8

Pretendo ser feliz.

I intend to be happy.

Simple intention.

1

Ayer pretendía llamarte, pero olvidé mi teléfono.

Yesterday I intended to call you, but I forgot my phone.

Imperfect tense for past intentions.

2

No pretendí romper el vaso, fue un accidente.

I didn't intend to break the glass, it was an accident.

Preterite tense for a specific event.

3

¿Qué pretendías con ese comentario?

What were you aiming for with that comment?

Imperfect for asking about past motives.

4

Pretendemos terminar el trabajo antes de las cinco.

We intend to finish the work before five.

Pretender + infinitive with a time limit.

5

Él pretende el puesto de asistente.

He is aiming for the assistant position.

Pretender + noun (aspiration).

6

No pretendemos gastar mucho dinero.

We don't intend to spend much money.

Negative intention.

7

Ella pretendía estudiar medicina.

She was intending to study medicine.

Imperfect for past goals.

8

¿Pretenden ustedes visitar el museo?

Do you (plural) intend to visit the museum?

Formal plural address.

1

Pretendo que me escuches cuando hablo.

I intend/expect you to listen to me when I speak.

Pretender que + present subjunctive.

2

Mi jefe pretende que trabajemos el sábado.

My boss expects us to work on Saturday.

Subjunctive for external expectation.

3

No pretendo que estés de acuerdo conmigo.

I don't expect you to agree with me.

Negative + subjunctive.

4

Si pretendiéramos ganar, tendríamos que entrenar más.

If we intended to win, we would have to train more.

Imperfect subjunctive in a conditional sentence.

5

¿Pretendes que yo lo haga todo solo?

Do you expect me to do it all by myself?

Subjunctive for unfair expectations.

6

El gobierno pretende que la economía mejore.

The government aims for the economy to improve.

Subjunctive for institutional goals.

7

Pretendía que la fiesta fuera una sorpresa.

I intended for the party to be a surprise.

Imperfect + past subjunctive.

8

No pretendo que me perdones ahora mismo.

I don't expect you to forgive me right now.

Subjunctive for emotional goals.

1

La empresa pretende expandirse al mercado asiático.

The company aims to expand into the Asian market.

Formal business usage.

2

No puedes pretender que la situación cambie sin hacer nada.

You can't expect the situation to change without doing anything.

Modal verb + pretender que + subjunctive.

3

El autor pretende cuestionar los valores de la sociedad.

The author aims to question society's values.

Literary analysis context.

4

Pretendemos que se respeten nuestros derechos fundamentales.

We claim/demand that our fundamental rights be respected.

Subjunctive for rights and claims.

5

Él pretende haber descubierto una nueva especie.

He claims to have discovered a new species.

Pretender + perfect infinitive (claiming a fact).

6

La reforma pretende simplificar los trámites burocráticos.

The reform aims to simplify bureaucratic procedures.

Administrative context.

7

¿Cómo pretendes que terminemos a tiempo con estos recursos?

How do you expect us to finish on time with these resources?

Rhetorical question + subjunctive.

8

No pretendía herir tus sentimientos con mi franqueza.

I didn't intend to hurt your feelings with my frankness.

Clarifying intention in the past.

1

La fiscalía pretende una pena de diez años de prisión.

The prosecution is seeking a ten-year prison sentence.

Legal usage (seeking/claiming).

2

Es ingenuo pretender que la tecnología resolverá todos los problemas.

It is naive to claim that technology will solve all problems.

Philosophical/Critical usage.

3

El joven aristócrata pretendía a la hija del duque.

The young aristocrat was courting the duke's daughter.

Archaic/Literary meaning (to court).

4

No se puede pretender la objetividad absoluta en el periodismo.

One cannot claim absolute objectivity in journalism.

Abstract noun object.

5

Pretendía, no sin cierta arrogancia, que todos le rindieran pleitesía.

He expected, not without a certain arrogance, that everyone would pay him homage.

Complex sentence with inserted phrase.

6

La obra pretende ser una alegoría de la condición humana.

The work purports to be an allegory of the human condition.

Artistic/Academic register.

7

Aspiraba a mucho, pero pretendía poco en realidad.

He aspired to much, but he actually aimed for little.

Contrast between aspirar and pretender.

8

Su pretensión de superioridad es simplemente insoportable.

His claim of superiority is simply unbearable.

Using the noun form 'pretensión'.

1

La hermenéutica contemporánea pretende desentrañar los sentidos ocultos del texto.

Contemporary hermeneutics aims to unravel the hidden meanings of the text.

Academic/Philosophical register.

2

El pretendiente al trono fue exiliado tras el fallido golpe.

The pretender to the throne was exiled after the failed coup.

Historical/Political usage.

3

No pretendo sentar cátedra sobre este asunto tan complejo.

I don't claim to be an authority on such a complex matter.

Idiomatic expression 'sentar cátedra'.

4

La ley, en su espíritu, pretende salvaguardar la equidad procesal.

The law, in its spirit, aims to safeguard procedural equity.

Legal/Formal register.

5

Pretender que la realidad se ajuste a nuestros deseos es el origen del sufrimiento.

Claiming that reality should adjust to our desires is the origin of suffering.

Infinitive as subject.

6

Se pretende que la inversión alcance los mil millones de euros.

It is intended that the investment reaches one billion euros.

Impersonal 'se' + subjunctive.

7

Bajo una máscara de humildad, pretendía el control total de la junta.

Under a mask of humility, he sought total control of the board.

Transitive use in a narrative context.

8

La dialéctica empleada pretende refutar las premisas del adversario.

The dialectic employed aims to refute the opponent's premises.

Formal argumentative register.

تلازمات شائعة

pretender un puesto
pretender un cargo
pretender la mano
pretender demostrar
pretender explicar
pretender ignorar
pretender engañar
pretender seriamente
pretender simplemente
pretender legítimamente

العبارات الشائعة

¿Qué pretendes?

No pretendo nada.

Pretender lo imposible.

Sin pretenderlo.

Pretender que todo siga igual.

¿Qué pretendes con eso?

Pretender ser el mejor.

No pretendo ofender.

Pretender un derecho.

Pretender la gloria.

يُخلط عادةً مع

pretender vs Pretend (English)

pretender vs Fingir

pretender vs Intentar

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

""

سهل الخلط

pretender vs

pretender vs

pretender vs

pretender vs

pretender vs

أنماط الجُمل

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

vs fingir

Fingir is to fake; pretender is to intend.

vs querer

Pretender is more formal and specific than querer.

vs intentar

Intentar is the effort; pretender is the goal.

أخطاء شائعة
  • Using it for 'to pretend' (faking).
  • Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after 'que'.
  • Confusing it with 'intentar' for physical efforts.
  • Mispronouncing the 'e' sounds.
  • Using it as a noun (it's a verb; use 'pretensión' for the noun).

نصائح

False Friend Alert

Never use 'pretender' to mean faking an illness or acting in a play. Use 'fingir' or 'actuar'.

Subjunctive Rule

Always use the subjunctive after 'pretender que'. Example: 'Pretendo que vengas'.

Noun Power

Learn 'pretensión' to talk about someone's claims or ambitions in a professional way.

Politeness

Use 'No pretendo...' to clarify that you aren't trying to be rude or difficult.

Job Interviews

Use 'pretender' to describe your career aspirations; it sounds more professional than 'querer'.

Legal Texts

In news, 'pretender' often means a legal claim. Look for it in court reporting.

Intonation

In '¿Qué pretendes?', your tone can convey curiosity, suspicion, or anger.

Clarity

When writing goals, 'pretender' is clearer than 'intentar' because it focuses on the outcome.

Literature

In old books, 'pretender' is the standard word for a man trying to win a woman's heart.

Quick Fix

If you are unsure, replace 'pretender' with 'tener la intención de'. If it fits, 'pretender' is correct.

احفظها

أصل الكلمة

Latin 'praetendere'

السياق الثقافي

In Spanish law, the 'pretensión' is the core of a lawsuit.

The term 'pretendiente' is still used in literature and formal contexts to describe a suitor.

Using 'pretender' instead of 'querer' elevates the register of your speech.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

بدايات محادثة

"¿Qué pretendes lograr este año?"

"¿Pretendes mudarte a otra ciudad pronto?"

"¿Qué pretende tu empresa con el nuevo producto?"

"¿Pretendes seguir estudiando después de graduarte?"

"¿Cómo pretendes celebrar tu cumpleaños?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Escribe sobre lo que pretendes conseguir en tu carrera profesional.

¿Qué pretendías hacer el fin de semana pasado que no pudiste?

Describe un proyecto que pretenda mejorar tu comunidad.

¿Qué pretendes aprender en los próximos seis meses?

Reflexiona sobre una vez que alguien pretendió algo de ti que no querías hacer.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

No, 'pretender' means to intend or aim for something. To say 'to pretend,' use 'fingir'.

Use the subjunctive when you use 'pretender que' and the subject of the second verb is different from the first.

It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more formal than 'querer' or 'intentar'.

Yes, but it sounds a bit old-fashioned or very formal in modern Spanish.

The noun forms are 'pretensión' (claim/intention) and 'pretendiente' (suitor/candidate).

Yes, it follows the regular conjugation for -er verbs.

You can say 'No pretendía...' or 'No fue mi intención...'.

It usually means 'What are you trying to achieve?' or 'What is your goal?'.

Yes, especially in legal contexts, it means to claim a right or title.

Yes, it is a standard verb used throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

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اختبر نفسك 180 أسئلة

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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محتوى ذو صلة

هذه الكلمة بلغات أخرى

pretender ポルトガル語
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