Introduction
pretenderán is a Spanish verb form that you may see in conversations, articles, plans, and predictions. It usually means they will intend, they will try, or they will claim, depending on the context. The word comes from the infinitive pretender, and its ending tells you that the action belongs to the future and that the subject is plural. Learning to recognize this form can help you understand what people plan to do, what they hope to achieve, or what they say is true.
There is also an important difference between Spanish pretender and English pretend. In many situations, pretender means to intend or to aim for something, not to act as if something is true. The context helps you identify the right meaning. In this guide, you will learn how to interpret pretenderán, how to form it, how to pronounce it, and how to use it naturally in clear Spanish sentences.
Meaning and Definition
Pretenderán is the third-person plural future form of the Spanish verb pretender. It can refer to ellos, ellas, or ustedes, which mean they or you all. Its most common meanings are they will intend, they will try, they will aim, and they will claim. The best English translation depends on what follows the verb and on the situation being described.
For example, if the sentence describes a goal, pretenderán can mean they will aim or they will intend. In a sentence about an effort, it may mean they will try. If someone states that something is true, the verb can mean they will claim or they will assert. These meanings are related because each describes what someone plans to do, attempts to do, or says they are doing.
The word is built from pretender and the future ending -án. Spanish uses this ending for the third-person plural future of many verbs. Compare hablarán, they will speak; comerán, they will eat; and vivirán, they will live. The future form does not change according to gender. It can refer to a group of men, a group of women, or a mixed group. The subject or the rest of the sentence makes clear who is involved.
The infinitive pretender has roots in the Latin verb praetendere, which carried ideas such as putting something forward or asserting something. This history helps explain why modern Spanish can use pretender for both an intention and a claim. However, learners should not rely only on word history. In everyday Spanish, the surrounding words are the clearest guide to the intended sense.
Be careful with the English word pretend. It often means to act as if something is real when it is not. Spanish pretender usually does not have that meaning. If you want to say that someone will pretend, the usual Spanish verb is fingir, so they will pretend is normally fingirán. This difference is a common false-friend trap for English speakers.
In writing, pretenderán may sound formal or deliberate, especially when it means they will claim or intend. In conversation, Spanish speakers may also use it, though they often choose simpler verbs such as querer, intentar, or buscar when those express the idea more directly.
Usage and Example Sentences
The following examples show how context changes the best translation. Notice that the subject is often stated, but it can also be understood from an earlier sentence or conversation.
Spanish: Los alumnos pretenderán completar el proyecto antes del viernes.
English: The students will aim to complete the project before Friday.
Spanish: ¿Pretenderán las familias llegar temprano a la reunión?
English: Will the families intend to arrive early at the meeting?
Spanish: Los diseñadores pretenderán crear una página sencilla y fácil de usar.
English: The designers will try to create a simple, easy-to-use page.
Spanish: Según el folleto, los visitantes pretenderán conocer todas las salas en una hora.
English: According to the brochure, the visitors will try to see all the rooms in one hour.
Spanish: Ellas pretenderán que el cambio fue fácil, aunque necesitaron mucha preparación.
English: They will claim that the change was easy, although they needed a lot of preparation.
Spanish: Los participantes pretenderán encontrar una solución que funcione para todos.
English: The participants will aim to find a solution that works for everyone.
Spanish: Si les preguntan por el horario, los organizadores pretenderán tener una respuesta clara.
English: If they are asked about the schedule, the organizers will claim to have a clear answer.
Spanish: Ustedes pretenderán aprender nuevas palabras durante el curso.
English: You all will intend to learn new words during the course.
In the first, third, and sixth examples, the verb points to a goal or effort. In the fifth and seventh, it introduces something people will claim or present as true. The translation try can be useful, but it is not always the best choice. If the sentence focuses on a goal, aim or intend may sound more natural in English. If it focuses on a statement, claim is usually clearer.
The verb is often followed by an infinitive when it describes an intention or goal: pretenderán aprender, they will intend to learn. It can also be followed by que and a clause when it means claim or maintain that something is the case. In this pattern, Spanish commonly uses the subjunctive after pretender que when the speaker presents the following idea as a desired outcome, but usage depends on the exact meaning and sentence structure. For a simple claim about a fact, speakers may use the indicative.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Word Usage Differences
Several Spanish verbs can express ideas similar to pretenderán, but they are not perfect substitutes. Elegir the right one depends on whether you mean intention, effort, a goal, or a claim. A small change in verb can make a sentence sound more direct and natural.
Intentarán means they will try. It highlights effort and is often a good choice when someone is making an attempt. For example, intentarán resolver el problema means they will try to solve the problem. This is often more straightforward than pretenderán when the sentence is about an action that may be difficult.
Querrán means they will want. It expresses desire or preference, rather than necessarily describing a plan or an attempt. If you want to say that a group will want to visit a museum, querrán visitar el museo is usually direct. Pretenderán can sound more intentional, formal, or strategic.
Buscarán means they will look for or seek. It works well when someone is searching for a thing, opportunity, or solution. Intentarán and buscarán may both fit sentences about a goal, but buscarán emphasizes searching, while intentarán emphasizes making an effort.
Afirmarán means they will state or assert. It is a useful alternative when the main idea is that someone will say something is true. Pretenderán can also mean they will claim, but afirmarán is often more neutral and direct. Sostendrán may also mean they will maintain or argue a position, especially in a formal discussion.
Fingirán means they will pretend, in the English sense of acting as if something is true. This is the key contrast for English-speaking learners. If a sentence means that people will pretend to understand, use fingirán comprender, not pretenderán comprender. The second phrase is more likely to mean they will intend or try to understand, depending on context.
There is no single opposite for pretenderán because the word has several meanings. For an intention, a contrasting idea might be no intentarán, they will not try, or renunciarán a la idea, they will give up the idea. For a claim, a contrasting idea could be admitirán que no es cierto, they will admit that it is not true. These are opposite meanings in a particular sentence, rather than fixed antonyms for every use.
When choosing a verb, ask yourself what the sentence is about. Is the group expressing a wish, making an effort, looking for something, or stating a claim? Querer, intentar, buscar, and afirmar may provide a more precise meaning. Use pretenderán when the idea of intention, aim, or claim fits the context and the slightly more deliberate tone sounds right.
Pronunciation and Accent
The pronunciation of pretenderán can be represented in IPA as /pɾe.ten.deˈɾan/. It has four syllables: pre-ten-de-rán. Say the syllables smoothly, without adding an extra vowel between them. The Spanish r in the final syllable is a single tap, similar to the light r sound in pero, not the stronger rolled sound found in perro.
The strongest stress falls on the final syllable, rán. The written accent mark over á shows this stress. Without the accent, a Spanish word ending in n would normally have stress on the next-to-last syllable. The accent mark therefore tells readers to emphasize the final syllable instead. Keep the final vowel clear and do not turn it into a long English-style diphthong.
Spanish vowels are generally short and steady. The e sounds in pre, ten, and de are similar to the vowel in the English word bed, though Spanish pronunciation is more consistent. The a in rán is an open ah sound. A common mistake is to stress the second syllable, as if the word were preténderan, or to pronounce the final r as a strong English r. Listening to native recordings and repeating the word in short phrases can help.
In much of the Spanish-speaking world, the letters d and r are pronounced with small differences from their usual English sounds. The d in de is made with the tongue near the upper teeth, and the r is a quick tap. Regional accents vary, but the written stress remains the same. The accent mark is not optional: it is part of the correct spelling of pretenderán.
Native Speaker Nuance and Usage Context
Native speakers use pretenderán when they want to talk about what a group intends, aims to do, or will claim in the future. The future tense can describe a real plan, a prediction, or an expectation. It does not always mean that the speaker has proof that the action will happen. As in English, the future can present an expectation rather than a guaranteed result.
The verb can sound more formal or thoughtful than querer. In a presentation, report, or written explanation, pretenderán may be a good fit for describing a group’s goals. In a relaxed conversation, speakers may instead say quieren hacerlo, they want to do it, or intentarán hacerlo, they will try to do it. The shorter alternatives can feel more natural when the meaning is simple.
When the verb means claim, it can sometimes suggest that the speaker is reporting someone else’s statement without confirming whether it is true. Tone matters. A neutral written account may use the verb simply to explain what a group says. In a conversation, a skeptical tone can make the same idea sound doubtful. Learners should pay attention to surrounding words and the speaker’s attitude before deciding whether claim is neutral or critical.
The subject may be omitted when it is already clear. Spanish verb endings often provide useful information about the subject, and the ending -án points to a plural subject in the third person or to ustedes. For instance, after a sentence mentioning the organizers, a speaker may use pretenderán without repeating los organizadores. The listener can connect the form to the earlier subject.
In Latin America, ustedes is the ordinary plural you in most everyday situations, so pretenderán can refer to people being addressed directly. In Spain, ustedes is generally used in more formal or polite situations, while vosotros is common for informal plural you. The vosotros future form is pretenderéis, not pretenderán. This regional distinction can help you understand who the subject is in a conversation.
For natural communication, choose a translation based on the whole sentence instead of memorizing one English equivalent. If a group has a clear goal, aim or intend may fit. If they are making an effort, try may be better. If they are presenting a statement as true, claim may be the clearest choice. This flexible approach helps prevent confusion with the English false friend pretend.
Conclusion
Pretenderán is the third-person plural future form of pretender. Depending on context, it can mean they will intend, they will aim, they will try, or they will claim. The form is built with the future ending -án, and the accent mark shows that the final syllable receives the stress. Pronouncing each syllable clearly and giving the final rán the strongest emphasis will make the word easier to say and recognize.
The most important point for English speakers is that Spanish pretender usually does not mean to act as if something is true. For that meaning, fingir is generally the better verb. Use context to decide whether pretenderán refers to a plan, an effort, or a statement. Comparing it with intentarán, querrán, buscarán, and afirmarán will also help you choose the most natural word. With practice, this useful future form will become easier to understand in reading, listening, and conversation.
