Fingir Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb fingir means to pretend, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Fingir means to pretend or to feign, and it is the verb for pretending to be ill, to be asleep or to be happy: fingir estar enfermo. It is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so yo finjo and the subjunctive finja. Remember: pretender does not mean to pretend. Like every Spanish verb, fingir changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say finjo estar enfermo para no ir, and in the preterite you say fingí una sonrisa en la foto. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: fingir
- English: to pretend
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ir
- Gerund: fingiendo
- Past participle: fingido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + fingido)
- Pattern to learn: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for fingir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Fingir is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so yo finjo and the subjunctive finja.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for fingir. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | finjo |
| tú | finges |
| él/ella/Ud. | finge |
| nosotros/as | fingimos |
| vosotros/as | fingís |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | fingen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | fingí |
| tú | fingiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | fingió |
| nosotros/as | fingimos |
| vosotros/as | fingisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | fingieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | fingía |
| tú | fingías |
| él/ella/Ud. | fingía |
| nosotros/as | fingíamos |
| vosotros/as | fingíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | fingían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | fingiré |
| tú | fingirás |
| él/ella/Ud. | fingirá |
| nosotros/as | fingiremos |
| vosotros/as | fingiréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | fingirán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | fingiría |
| tú | fingirías |
| él/ella/Ud. | fingiría |
| nosotros/as | fingiríamos |
| vosotros/as | fingiríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | fingirían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he fingido |
| tú | has fingido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha fingido |
| nosotros/as | hemos fingido |
| vosotros/as | habéis fingido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han fingido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había fingido |
| tú | habías fingido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había fingido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos fingido |
| vosotros/as | habíais fingido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían fingido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré fingido |
| tú | habrás fingido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá fingido |
| nosotros/as | habremos fingido |
| vosotros/as | habréis fingido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán fingido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría fingido |
| tú | habrías fingido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría fingido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos fingido |
| vosotros/as | habríais fingido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían fingido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | finja |
| tú | finjas |
| él/ella/Ud. | finja |
| nosotros/as | finjamos |
| vosotros/as | fingáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | finjan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | fingiera |
| tú | fingieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | fingiera |
| nosotros/as | fingiéramos |
| vosotros/as | fingierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | fingieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | finge |
| él/ella/Ud. | finja |
| nosotros/as | finjamos |
| vosotros/as | fingid |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | finjan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | finjas |
| él/ella/Ud. | finja |
| nosotros/as | finjamos |
| vosotros/as | fingáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | finjan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | fingiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy fingiendo |
| Past participle | fingido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he fingido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. Note the pattern here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. For fingir, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Finjo estar enfermo para no ir. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. For fingir, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, fingí dormir en el sofá. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, fingía una sonrisa en la foto. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, fingiré que no oye nada. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Fingiría estar enfermo para no ir si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he fingido dormir en el sofá. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había fingido una sonrisa en la foto antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré fingido que no oye nada. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría fingido estar enfermo para no ir con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. For fingir, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él finja dormir en el sofá. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For fingir, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él fingiera una sonrisa en la foto, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. For fingir, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Finge que no oye nada! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. Note the spelling change here: this verb is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. For fingir, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No finjas estar enfermo para no ir. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with fingir, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Finjo estar enfermo para no ir. — I pretend to be ill so as not to go.
- Finge dormir en el sofá. — He/she pretends to sleep on the sofa.
- Ayer, fingí una sonrisa en la foto. — Yesterday, I pretended a smile in the photo.
- Antes, nosotros fingíamos que no oye nada. — Before, we used to pretend that he hears nothing.
- Mañana, tú fingirás estar enfermo para no ir. — Tomorrow, you will pretend to be ill so as not to go.
- Yo fingiría dormir en el sofá si tuviera más tiempo. — I would pretend to sleep on the sofa if I had more time.
- Él ha fingido una sonrisa en la foto. — He has pretended a smile in the photo.
- Espero que él finja que no oye nada. — I hope he pretends that he hears nothing.
- Yo ya había fingido estar enfermo para no ir antes de salir. — I had already pretended to be ill so as not to go before leaving.
- Ellos fingían dormir en el sofá cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to pretend to sleep on the sofa when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo finge estar enfermo para no ir. — Right: Yo finjo estar enfermo para no ir. — The person matters: finge is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is finjo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo fingo dormir en el sofá. — Right: Yo finjo dormir en el sofá. — Fingir is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. The form finjo follows that pattern, not the plain stem plus -o.
- Wrong: Treating fingir and pretender as identical in every context. — Right: Fingir means to pretend, while pretender means to intend, to claim — never to pretend. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: fingir fits sentences such as Finjo estar enfermo para no ir, while pretender belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy fingido dormir en el sofá. — Right: Yo he fingido dormir en el sofá. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he fingido, has fingido, ha fingido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo fingí una sonrisa en la foto todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo fingía una sonrisa en la foto todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (fingía), not the preterite. The preterite (fingí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on fingir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ estar enfermo para no ir. (present tense) A. finjo B. finges C. finge D. fingimos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ dormir en el sofá. (preterite) A. fingí B. fingiste C. fingimos D. fingió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una sonrisa en la foto. (imperfect) A. fingías B. finjo C. fingíamos D. fingía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ que no oye nada. (future) A. fingiremos B. fingirás C. fingiré D. fingirá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ estar enfermo para no ir si pudiera. (conditional) A. fingiría B. fingirías C. fingiríamos D. finjo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ dormir en el sofá. (present subjunctive) A. finjas B. finjamos C. finjo D. finja
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una sonrisa en la foto, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. fingiéramos B. finjo C. fingiera D. fingieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ que no oye nada. (present perfect) A. ha fingido B. hemos fingido C. he fingido D. has fingido
Complete the command: ¡___ estar enfermo para no ir! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. finge B. finja C. finjamos D. fingid
Which is the gerund of fingir, used with estar for the progressive? A. fingido B. finjo C. fingí D. fingiendo
Answer key
- finjo — The yo present tense of fingir is finjo.
- fingió — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of fingir is fingió.
- fingíamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of fingir is fingíamos.
- fingirás — The tú future of fingir is fingirás.
- fingiría — The yo conditional of fingir is fingiría.
- finja — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of fingir is finja.
- fingiera — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of fingir is fingiera.
- hemos fingido — The nosotros/as present perfect of fingir is hemos fingido.
- finge — The affirmative tú imperative of fingir is finge.
- fingiendo — The gerund of fingir is fingiendo: estoy fingiendo. The participle fingido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does fingir mean in English?
Fingir means to pretend. It is used in everyday situations such as Finjo estar enfermo para no ir. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is fingir regular or irregular?
Fingir is a spelling-change verb: it is a -gir verb: g becomes j before o and a, so the present first person is finjo and the present subjunctive is finja. The endings are regular, so once you know the pattern you can produce every form on this page, including finjo in the present and fingí in the preterite.
What is the difference between fingir and pretender?
Fingir means to pretend, while pretender means to intend, to claim — never to pretend. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use fingir when you mean to pretend, as in Finjo estar enfermo para no ir, and use pretender for to intend, to claim — never to pretend. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I pretend” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo fingí dormir en el sofá. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo fingía una sonrisa en la foto. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he fingido dormir en el sofá.
How do I practise fingir?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the fingir examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Fingir in the present tense — the full present-tense table for fingir.
- Fingir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for fingir.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Extinguir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with fingir.
- Fluir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with fingir.
- Expandir conjugation — another -ir verb to compare with fingir.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.