Inklingo
Dictionary

mentir

men-TEERmenˈtiɾ

“mentir” means “to lie” in Spanish (to say something untrue knowingly).

to lieAlso: to deceive

VerbA1irregular (stem-changing e -> ie, and e -> i in some forms) ir
Mexico
A small child standing next to a shattered blue vase on the floor. The child is pointing accusingly at a cat sitting nearby, while secretly holding a small hammer behind their back.
infinitivementir
gerundmintiendo
past Participlementido

📝 In Action

Ella siempre miente sobre su edad.

A1

She always lies about her age.

Prométeme que nunca me mentirás.

A2

Promise me that you will never lie to me.

Aunque me mintió, creo que lo hizo para protegerme.

B1

Even though he lied to me, I think he did it to protect me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • engañar (to deceive)
  • falsear (to falsify)

Antonyms

  • decir la verdad (to tell the truth)
  • ser honesto (to be honest)

Common Collocations

  • mentir descaradamente – to lie brazenly/shamelessly
  • mentir por omisión – to lie by omission

Idioms & Expressions

  • Mentira piadosa – A white lie (a small lie told to avoid hurting someone)

Indicative

Present

yomiento
túmientes
él/ella/ustedmiente
nosotrosmentimos
vosotrosmentís
ellos/ellas/ustedesmienten

Imperfect

yomentía
túmentías
él/ella/ustedmentía
nosotrosmentíamos
vosotrosmentíais
ellos/ellas/ustedesmentían

Preterite

yomentí
túmentiste
él/ella/ustedmintió
nosotrosmentimos
vosotrosmentisteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesmintieron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yomienta
túmientas
él/ella/ustedmienta
nosotrosmintamos
vosotrosmintáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesmientan

Imperfect Subjunctive

yomintiera
túmintieras
él/ella/ustedmintiera
nosotrosmintiéramos
vosotrosmintierais
ellos/ellas/ustedesmintieran
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mentir" in Spanish:

to deceiveto lie

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mentir

Question 1 of 2

Which form of 'mentir' is used when talking about what 'we' (nosotros) are lying about right now?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
la mentira(the lie (noun)) — Noun
mentiroso(liar, lying (adjective/noun)) — Adjective
el desmentido(the denial/refutation (noun)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes
sentirhervir
📚 Etymology

The word comes from the Latin verb *mentiri*, which had the same meaning: 'to lie' or 'to invent'.

First recorded: Around the 10th-11th century in Old Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: mentirItalian: mentire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mentir' reflexive? Do I ever say 'mentirse'?

Generally, no. 'Mentir' is used directly: 'Yo miento' (I lie). You would only use 'mentirse' if you meant 'to lie to oneself,' as in 'No te mientas a ti mismo' (Don't lie to yourself).

How do I know when the stem changes from 'e' to 'ie' versus 'e' to 'i'?

The 'e' becomes 'ie' in most of the present tense (the 'boot' forms: yo, tú, él/ella, ellos/ellas). The 'e' becomes 'i' in the Gerund (mintiendo), the Preterite 3rd person forms (mintió/mintieron), and the entire Present Subjunctive 'nosotros/vosotros' forms (mintamos/mintáis).