How to pronounce pretend
Say it like pree-TEND. Pretend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pretend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- TEND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pretend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- TENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of pretend
American and British speakers say pretend in essentially the same way: /priˈtɛnd/ in the US and /prɪˈtɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: prih-TEND.
What does pretend mean?
- make believe with the intent to deceive“He feigned that he was ill”“He shammed a headache”
- behave unnaturally or affectedly“She's just acting”
- put forward a claim and assert right or possession of“pretend the title of King”
- the enactment of a pretense“it was just pretend”
- imagined as in a play“the make-believe world of theater”“play money”
Where does pretend come from?
From Anglo-Norman pretendre, Middle French pretendre (French prétendre (“to claim, demand”)), from Latin praetendere (“to put forward, hold out, pretend”), from prae- (“pre-”) + tendō (“stretch”); see tend.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pretend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pretend.
Questions about saying pretend
How do you pronounce pretend?
Say pree-TEND. The American pronunciation is /priˈtɛnd/. In British English it is /prɪˈtɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pretend?
Pretend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEND). Broken into parts: pree · TEND.
Do Americans and Brits say pretend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /priˈtɛnd/ and the British form is /prɪˈtɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.