fingir

Fingir is a Spanish verb meaning to feign or to pretend, that is, to present something as real when it is not, such as a feeling, an attitude, or a situation. It is transitive and commonly used with a direct object or with clauses introduced by que or como si.

Etymology and related terms: fingir comes from Latin fingere, meaning to shape or form, and it has cognates in other Romance languages (for example, Portuguese fingir). Related words include simular (to simulate) and mentir (to lie), though fingir emphasizes feigning rather than veritable falsehood.

Conjugation (key forms): Present indicative: yo finjo, tú finges, él finge, nosotros fingimos, vosotros fingís, ellos fingen. Preterite: yo fingí, tú fingiste, él fingió, nosotros fingimos, vosotros fingisteis, ellos fingieron. Present subjunctive: yo finja, tú finjas, él finja, nosotros fingamos, vosotros fingáis, ellos finjan. Past participle: fingido; gerund: fingiendo. Other tenses follow the standard patterns of -gir verbs in Spanish, with the yo form finjo and corresponding forms in other persons.

Usage notes: Fingir describes feigning a physical state, emotion, intention, or reaction. It often appears with que (fingir que) or with como si (fingir como si). It is distinct from mentir (to lie) and simular (to simulate in a broader sense). Reflexive form fingirse can mean pretending to be someone or something else, as in fingirse víctima or fingirse experto.

Nouns: fingimiento is a noun denoting the act of feigning. See also: simular, mentir, fingimiento.