pretend

In French, the word 'prétendre' is commonly used to indicate the act of claiming or alleging something, often without the support of evidence. It can also convey the idea of pretending in the sense of putting on a façade or behaving in a way that is not genuine. While it may not translate directly to 'pretend' in every context, it captures the nuance of asserting something that may not be true or acting in a deceptive manner.