pretend
gb/pɹitˈɛnd/ us/pɹitˈɛnd/
A1
Kiingereza
~ 2900
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
A2
action
1
Act as if something is true
To act like something is real when it is not.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to pretend [that] [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pretend' with 'intend'. 'Pretend' means to act as if something is true, while 'intend' means to plan to do something.
Visawe
fake (Often stronger and can imply deliberate dishonesty, not just play-acting.)
|
feign (More formal; often used for pretending feelings or conditions.)
Vinyume
admit (To openly say the truth instead of acting like something else is true.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
pretend to be
|pretend that
|pretend not to
|just pretend
|pretend for fun
Mada
daily life
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She pretended to be asleep when her parents came in.
- He pretended that he knew the answer.
- They pretended not to hear the question.
- I pretended I was a superhero when I was a kid.
- Don't pretend you don't know what's going on.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I pretended to be a cat.
- He pretended he was sick.
- She pretended to read a book.
- We pretended we were on a boat.
Kitenzi
A1
action
2
Play imaginary games
To play a game where you imagine you are someone or something else.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to pretend to be [someone/something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use 'pretend' in this sense in serious contexts where it sounds childish or playful unintentionally.
Visawe
make-believe (Often used for children's imaginative play.)
Vinyume
be serious (To act in a way that is real and not playful or imagined.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
pretend play
|pretend game
|pretend to be a princess
|pretend adventure
Mada
daily life
|children
|games
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Mifano
- The children pretended to be pirates on a ship.
- Let’s pretend we’re exploring space.
- She pretended to be a famous singer during the party.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- We pretended to be animals.
- He pretended to be a king.
- She pretended to fly like a bird.
Kitenzi
formal
C1
action
3
Claim without proof or right
To say you have something, like a right, when you do not really have it.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to pretend to [something]
Visawe
profess (Formal; can imply claiming something as true or genuine.)
Vinyume
disclaim (To deny having any right or connection.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
pretend to authority
|pretend to knowledge
Mada
law
|argument
|communication
Mifano
- He pretends to great knowledge of art, but he knows very little.
- Several groups pretended to the throne during the crisis.
- She pretends to authority she does not have.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He pretends to know everything about history.
- They pretend to have power they do not have.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
pretend
IPA
GB/pɹitˈɛnd/
US/pɹitˈɛnd/
Silabi na mkazo
pre - tend (silabi 2)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tend)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: pretend
- 3rd Person Singular: pretends
- Present Participle: pretending
- Past: pretended
Familia ya neno
Forms
pretends
verb
pretending
verb
pretended
verb
Core family
pretense
noun
Related words
pretender
noun
pretentious
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unpretentious
adjective
Advanced or less common
pretension
noun
pretentiously
adverb
Semi
let's pretend
1/lˈɛts pɹitˈɛnd/
fixed phrase
Invite someone to imagine together
Used when you ask someone to imagine something with you for fun or an example.
Mifano
- Let's pretend we're on a treasure hunt.
- Let's pretend we live on the moon.
only pretending
1/ˈoʊnli pɹitˈɛndɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Not serious, just acting
When someone is acting but not really meaning it.
Mifano
- Don't worry, she was only pretending to be angry.
- He said he was hurt, but he was only pretending.
pretend play
1/pɹitˈɛnd plˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Imaginative play by acting roles
A game where children act like they are other people or things.
Mifano
- Pretend play helps children develop social skills.
- The kids were engaged in pretend play as doctors and patients.