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mentir

men-TEERmenˈtiɾ

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

to lie

Also: 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)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

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

imperfect

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

preterite

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

subjunctive

present

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

imperfect

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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mentir" in Spanish:

to deceive→to 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▼
📚 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).