pretendre

Prétendre is a French verb used to describe claiming something as true, asserting or professing, or feigning an action or status. It is often used with an infinitive, as in prétendre faire quelque chose (to claim to do something or to pretend to do something), or with que to introduce a proposition, as in prétendre que c’est vrai (to claim that it is true). The reflexive form se prétendre is common when someone presents themselves as something, for example se prétendre ingénieur (to claim to be an engineer).

Etymology and form. Prétendre derives from the Latin praetendere, formed from prae- “before” and tendere “to stretch, to hold out.” The modern French form preserves this sense of presenting something as established or asserted. The verb has a past participle prétendu and a present participle prétendant. The related noun prétention denotes a claim or pretension, while prétendument means allegedly.

Usage notes. Prétendre can carry a neutral meaning (to claim) or a skeptical nuance when used with que or in context that questions the truth of the claim. It contrasts with affirmer (to state firmly) by often implying a lesser degree of certainty or a move to present a claim as fact. The noun prétention can refer to an asserted status, and prétendant can mean a suitor or claimant in various senses.

Conjugation (selected forms). Present: je prétends, tu prétends, il prétend, nous prétendons, vous prétendez, ils prétendent. Past composite: j’ai prétendu. Imperfect: je prétendais. Future: je prétendrai. Subjunctive: que je prétende, que nous prétendions.