make-believe

[/ˈmeɪk bɪˈliːv/]
noun, adjective, verbpl: make-believes
faz-de-conta
1. Noun: imaginative pretense or fantasy; something imagined or pretended rather than real
The children engaged in make-believe, pretending to be pirates.
As crianças se engajaram em faz-de-conta, fingindo ser piratas.
2. Adjective: imagined, pretended, or false; not genuine or real
She created a make-believe world in her novel.
Ela criou um mundo de faz-de-conta em seu romance.
3. Verb: to pretend or imagine something; to engage in fantasy or play-acting
Let's make-believe we are astronauts exploring Mars.
Vamos fingir que somos astronautas explorando Marte.
Make-believe is deeply associated with childhood imagination and play in English-speaking cultures. In Brazil, 'faz-de-conta' is a cherished cultural element of children's play and is often used affectionately to describe imaginative games. The term reflects a universal understanding of how children develop creativity and social skills through pretend play.
NYC Slang
play pretend; fake it; cap (when referring to lying)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
pretendfantasyimaginationpretensefictionplay-actingsimulation
Antonyms / Antônimos
realitytruthgenuineauthenticreal

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
faz-de-conta
most common and widely used term for make-believe
Rio de Janeiro
faz-de-conta; fingimento
faz-de-conta is standard; fingimento emphasizes deception
São Paulo
faz-de-conta; brincadeira de faz-de-conta
faz-de-conta preferred; longer form emphasizes playfulness
Portugal
faz-de-conta; teatro
faz-de-conta is used; teatro can refer to pretentious behavior

Related Words

imaginationpretendfantasyroleplaysimulatefictionillusion

Related Idioms & Phrases

live in a make-believe world
make-believe scenario
land of make-believe
play make-believe
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →