French Conversation · Level 61
71 words
French word
prétendre
Pronunciation
IPA/pʁetɑ̃dʁ/
Meaning
- verbclaim
Example
Il prétend être innocent.
He claims to be innocent.
More examples
On prétend que le produit est efficace.
It is claimed that the product is effective.
Core concept
A person presents an unverified statement firmly, placing it before others as an asserted fact.
Common phrases
prétendre que
claim that ___
prétendre + infinitif
claim to ___
Similar words
affirmer: State something clearly and assert that it is true.
déclarer: State an opinion or fact publicly and formally.
assurer: State confidently that something is true.
soutenir: Insist repeatedly that a claim is correct.
Definition in French
Affirmer quelque chose comme vrai, souvent malgré des doutes ou l'absence de preuve.
Word origin
Prétendre is inherited through Old French from Latin praetendere, formed from prae- 'forward' and tendere 'stretch'.
Usage tips
- Prétendre commonly takes que with a finite verb or an infinitive, as in prétendre qu'il est innocent and prétendre être innocent.
Other meanings
- aspireverb
Opposites
- admettreadmitverb
Related words
- prétenduso-calledadjective
- prétendantclaimantnoun