Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Fingir creates a false appearance; pretender expresses an intention or aim.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
fingir
to pretend something is true
Use fingir for creating a false appearance or hiding a real feeling or intention.
pretender
to intend or plan
Use pretender for having a goal or intention for a future action.
How to choose
- fingir: Choose fingir if the sentence points to creating a false appearance or hiding a real feeling or intention.
- pretender: Choose pretender if the sentence points to having a goal or intention for a future action.
Examples
Ele fingiu que não ouviu a pergunta.
He pretended not to hear the question.
Pretendo viajar no fim do ano.
I intend to travel at the end of the year.
Common trap
Portuguese pretender is a false friend of English “pretend.” To act as if something were true, use fingir.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with fingir, then once with pretender. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.