French word

prétendu

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁetɑ̃dy/

Meaning

  • adjectiveso-called

Example

Il a invité son prétendu ami.

He invited his so-called friend.

Illustration for prétendu (so-called)

More examples

Ils ont interrogé le prétendu témoin.

They questioned the alleged witness.

Core concept

A label attached to a person or quality with a question mark beside it.

Common phrases

  • le prétendu témoin

    the alleged witness

  • son prétendu ami

    his alleged friend

Similar words

supposé: Widely considered to be so without enough grounds for certainty.
présumé: Estimated to be so even though it has not been firmly established.

Definition in French

Emploi adjectival indiquant qu'une qualité ou une relation est alléguée mais peut être contestée.

Word origin

Prétendu is the past participle of prétendre, from Latin praetendere through Old French, and its adjectival use marks a claim that may not be accepted.

Usage tips

  • Before a noun, prétendu usually signals the speaker's doubt, as in un prétendu ami, rather than a neutral report of someone else's claim.

Other meanings

  • allegedadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word