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"Pretendido" is a form of "pretendido", an adjective which is often translated as "supposed". "Pretendiente" is a noun which is often translated as "candidate". Learn more about the difference between "pretendido" and "pretendiente" below.
pretendido(
preh
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tehn
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dee
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doh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (general)
a. supposed
El pretendido autor del libro exige cobrar los derechos de autor.The supposed author of the book is demanding royalties.
b. alleged
La policía detuvo al pretendido asesino de la víctima.The police arrested the victim's alleged murderer.
c. so-called
La pretendida depresión postvacacional afecta a todos los empleados que acaban de volver de sus vacaciones.The so-called post-holiday depression affects all employees who've just gotten back from the holidays.
el pretendiente, la pretendienta(
preh
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tehn
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dyehn
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teh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (aspirant)
a. pretender
Cuando el rey murió sin heredero, la corte se dio prisa en encontrar a un nuevo pretendiente al trono.When the king died without an heir, the court scrambled to find a new pretender to the throne.