aparentar
/apaɾenˈtaɾ/
The English phrase "put up a front" is translated into Spanish as aparentar.
aparentar means to pretend to be someone or something that you are not in order to hide your true feelings or situation. It is often used to describe someone trying to project a certain social status or wealth that they do not actually possess.
Which one should you use?
While the Spanish verb fingir is also used for pretending, aparentar specifically carries the connotation of maintaining an outward appearance or social facade.
How does it change in a sentence?
aparentar is an infinitive verb that can be conjugated in any tense. For example, aparentaba can be used to mean "he/she was putting up a front" and aparentó can mean "he/she put up a front".
How do you pronounce it?
/apaɾenˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- While aparentar often means putting up a front, it is also the standard way to describe how old someone looks, such as saying aparenta veinte años to mean someone 'looks twenty'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, aparentar is linked to the social pressure of 'saving face' or maintaining dignity, making it a more culturally loaded term than the English 'pretend'.
- The word aparentar shares its DNA with the English word 'apparent', as both stem from the Latin 'apparere', meaning 'to appear' or 'to come into sight'.
Examples in context
- La familia real debe mantener una fachada de armonía y estabilidad ante el público.The royal family must put up a front of harmony and stability in front of the public.
- Juan se hace el tonto para que no descubran sus verdaderas intenciones.Juan puts up a front to prevent others from discovering his true intentions.
- María se pone una máscara de felicidad cuando todos sabemos que está pasando por un momento difícil.María puts up a front of happiness when we all know she's going through a tough time.
- Siempre muestra una apariencia de valentía, aunque esté asustado.He always puts up a front of bravery, even when he's scared.
- Mi director mantiene una fachada de seriedad, pero en realidad es muy divertido.My manager maintains a front of seriousness, but he's actually a lot of fun.
- Ponte una máscara si no quieres que descubran tus verdaderas intenciones.Put up a front if you don't want them to discover your true intentions.
- No quiere aparentar que es rico.He doesn't want to put up a front that he is rich.
- No quiere aparentar que tiene mucho dinero.He doesn't want to pretend that he has a lot of money.
- Ella siempre intenta aparentar que es muy feliz.She always tries to pretend that she is very happy.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are talking about a mutual friend in a café.
- Elena¿Crees que él está bien de verdad?Do you think he is actually okay?
- AlejandroNo, solo intenta aparentar que no le importa.No, he is just trying to pretend that he doesn't care.
- ElenaPobre hombre, se nota que sufre.Poor man, it is obvious that he is suffering.
- AlejandroSí, es muy difícil para él.Yes, it is very difficult for him.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry aparentar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aparentar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
