mentes
/MEN-tehs/
minds
Mentes (minds) refers to intellects or consciousnesses.
mentes(noun)
minds
?intellects or consciousnesses
intellects
?people considered intelligent
,brains
?figurative, referring to intelligence
📝 In Action
Las mentes brillantes cambiaron el mundo.
B1Brilliant minds changed the world.
Necesitamos abrir nuestras mentes a nuevas ideas.
A2We need to open our minds to new ideas.
Hay dos mentes trabajando en este proyecto.
A2There are two minds working on this project.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Even though many Spanish words ending in '-e' can be masculine (like 'el coche'), 'mente' is always feminine. So, remember to use 'las mentes' or 'unas mentes'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "Los mentes están abiertas."
Correction: Las mentes están abiertas. (Always use the feminine article 'las'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Abstract Ideas
Use 'mentes' when referring to the capacity for thought, consciousness, or intellect, not the physical brain.
As a verb form, mentes means '(that) you mention' or refer to something.
mentes(verb)
(that) you mention
?present subjunctive, informal 'tú' form
you name
?present indicative, informal 'tú' form (less common)
📝 In Action
Espero que no mentes su nombre en la reunión.
C1I hope that you don't mention his name in the meeting. (Subjunctive use)
Tú mentes los problemas cada vez que nos vemos.
C2You name/mention the problems every time we see each other. (Indicative use, very formal/rare)
💡 Grammar Points
Subjunctive Form
This form ('mentes') is most often used when expressing a wish, desire, or doubt about the action of 'mentioning' someone or something, usually after trigger words like 'espero que' (I hope that) or 'quiero que' (I want that).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'mentar' and 'mentir'
Mistake: "People often confuse 'mentar' (to mention) with the very common verb 'mentir' (to lie). The 'tú' form for 'mentir' is 'mientes' (you lie), which is a stem-changing verb, not 'mentes'."
Correction: If you mean 'to lie', use 'mientes'. If you mean 'to mention', use 'mentes' (though 'mencionas' is much more common).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use a Synonym
Since 'mentar' is so rare, you should almost always use 'mencionar' (to mention) instead. For example, say 'Tú mencionas' instead of 'Tú mentes'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mentes
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'mentes' as the plural of 'mind'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mentes' related to 'mentir' (to lie)?
No, they are different words with different origins. 'Mentes' (plural noun) is based on the word for 'mind.' The verb 'mentir' (to lie) is a stem-changing verb, and its 'tú' form is 'mientes,' not 'mentes.' Be careful not to confuse them!
Why is 'mentes' feminine if it ends in 'e'?
'Mente' is one of those words that follows the feminine pattern, similar to 'la noche' (night) or 'la clase' (class). You must always use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'las mentes abiertas').