mentira
men-TEE-rah
📝 In Action
No puedes confiar en él, siempre dice mentiras.
A1You can't trust him, he always tells lies.
Descubrimos que toda su historia era una mentira.
A2We discovered that his entire story was a falsehood.
¡Qué mentira tan grande me contaste!
A2What a big lie you told me!
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
As a noun ending in -a, 'mentira' is always feminine. Use 'la' before it, or 'una' if you are referring to one lie.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Verb vs. the Noun
Mistake: "I lie = *Yo soy mentira.* (Incorrect: This means 'I am a lie'.)"
Correction: The action of lying uses the verb *mentir*: *Yo miento.* (I lie.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Right Verb
To express the action of telling a lie, always use the verb decir (to say/tell): decir una mentira.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mentira
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'mentira'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mentira' the same as 'engaño'?
Not exactly. 'Mentira' is a false statement. 'Engaño' (deception or trick) is the overall act or scheme used to mislead someone, which may or may not involve telling a specific lie.
How do I make 'mentira' plural?
Like most Spanish nouns, you just add an -s: 'mentiras' (lies). For example, 'Él cuenta muchas mentiras' (He tells many lies).