French Expression · Intermediate
faire semblant
to pretend
Pronunciation: /fɛʁ sɑ̃.blɑ̃/
Meaning
A word or expression meaning "to pretend".
Example
Il a fait semblant de dormir pour ne pas être dérangé.
He pretended to be asleep so as not to be disturbed.
Practice tips
- Practice faire semblant out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this French expression is for intermediate-level learners.