Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| asacar | /asakaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| aparentar | /apaɾenˈtaɾ/ |
| hacer la finta | /aˌθeɾ la ˈfinta/ /aˌseɾ la ˈfinta/ |
| dragonear | /dɾaɡoneˈaɾ/ |
The verb used to describe speaking or behaving in a way that creates a false appearance is generally expressed through several different verbs depending on the context. You might use fingir to mean simulating an emotion, a state or a situation, such as pretending to be asleep. If you want to say 'to act as if', you can use the phrase hacer como si. For describing something imaginary, you can use the related adjective de mentirijillas.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on what kind of pretending you mean. While 'pretend' in English often implies playing a game or making up a story, aparentar is used specifically when someone is trying to project a certain image or status, such as pretending to be rich. On the other hand, hacer la finta is a way to describe feigning an action or a reaction to deceive others.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you need a formal way to say 'to pretend', use simular. For everyday use, fingir is the most direct and common translation. In casual conversation, you may encounter the colloquial expression hacer la finta.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/asakaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using the Spanish word pretender to mean 'to pretend'. In Spanish, pretender actually means 'to intend' or 'to claim'.
When do people say it?
If you want to describe someone who is purposefully acting like they do not understand something, you can use the idiomatic expression hacerse el sueco, which means 'to play dumb'.
Did you know?
- The verb dragonear has undergone a strange evolution, moving from describing the flashiness of a dragon or a dragoon to meaning 'to pose' and eventually 'to flirt'.
- To describe someone playing dumb, you can use the phrase hacerse el sueco, which literally translates to 'to make oneself the Swede'.
Examples in context
- Es importante simular interés en el tema durante la reunión.It's important to pretend interest in the topic during the meeting.
- Vamos a fingir que somos piñas bailarinas.Let's pretend we are dancing pineapples.
- No te preocupes, solo estaban fingiendo ser policías.Don't worry, they were just pretending to be police officers.
- Debemos hacer como si no nos importara y seguir sonriendo.We must pretend not to care and keep smiling.
- "Voy a hacer como si todo estuviera bien", pensó mientras ocultaba sus lágrimas."I'm going to pretend everything is fine," she thought, hiding her tears.
- fingimosWe pretend
- simularéI will pretend
- haces como siYou pretend
- Lo fingióHe pretended it
- Me hago el dormidoI pretend to be asleep
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking about a coworker's behavior.
- JavierÉl siempre quiere asacar que es el jefe.He always wants to pretend that he is the boss.
- LucíaSí, pero nadie en la oficina le cree.Yes, but nobody in the office believes him.
- Javier¿Por qué crees que lo hace?Why do you think he does it?
- LucíaCreo que solo quiere impresionar a Lucía.I think he just wants to impress Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretend” translations and entries asacar, aparentar, hacer la finta, dragonear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aparentar, dragonear, finta, hacer, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
