Pretvárania

Pretvárania is a Slovak noun describing the act or process of changing the form, appearance, or character of something. The word comes from the verb pretvárať (to transform, to reshape, to convert). The prefix pre- signals a change in state, while tvár refers to form or shape.

The term is used across various domains. In engineering and manufacturing, pretváranie denotes physical shaping or forming processes, such as metal forming or plastic forming. In information technology and data processing, it describes data transformation or format conversion. In design and urban planning, it can refer to reframing or repurposing an object or space. In sociology and psychology, pretváranie can describe the act of presenting a different identity or image, sometimes associated with disguise or hypocrisy.

Nuance and usage: while often neutral in technical contexts, pretváranie can carry negative connotations when it refers to deception or the presentation of a false persona. The term emphasizes the process of change rather than the outcome.

See also: related concepts include transformácia (transformation), zmena (change), úprava (modification), and, in social contexts, maskovanie or pretvarovanie.