Inklingo

How to Say "deceitful" in Spanish

English → Spanish

falso

FAHL-soh/ˈfalso/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'falso' when describing something that is not genuine, counterfeit, or a copy, like a fake product or a false statement.
A detailed, shiny gold coin lying next to a dull, crudely stamped gray metal coin, illustrating a counterfeit item.

Examples

Me vendieron un reloj falso en la calle.

They sold me a fake watch on the street.

Ella tiene una sonrisa falsa, no parece feliz.

She has an insincere (false) smile; she doesn't look happy.

Descubrieron que el dinero era falso.

They discovered that the money was counterfeit.

Using Ser vs. Estar

When describing a person's character as deceitful, always use 'ser': 'Él es falso' (He is a false person). You would not typically use 'estar' with this meaning.

mentiroso

men-tee-ROH-so/mentiˈroso/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'mentiroso' to describe a person who lies habitually or a statement/excuse that is untruthful and intended to deceive.
A simple cartoon character standing with a slightly visible, knotted, and tangled tongue, symbolizing deceitful speech or a lying nature.

Examples

Su excusa era tan mentirosa que nadie le creyó.

His excuse was so untruthful that nobody believed him.

El informe parecía mentiroso y lleno de errores.

The report seemed misleading and full of errors.

Matching Gender

As an adjective, 'mentiroso' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'mentiroso' for masculine things and 'mentirosa' for feminine things.

Forgetting the Gender Change

Mistake: “Ella es mentiroso.”

Correction: Ella es mentirosa. (You must match the 'a' ending to the female subject 'Ella'.)

traidor

trah-EE-dor/tɾaˈiðoɾ/

AdjectiveB2General
Use 'traidor' metaphorically to describe something unreliable or that deceives unexpectedly, like a treacherous memory or a misleading path.
An illustration of a beautiful, vibrant green grassy meadow that hides a dangerous, deep sinkhole just beneath the surface, illustrating something treacherous.

Examples

La memoria es traidora cuando uno intenta recordar detalles viejos.

Memory is treacherous/deceitful when one tries to recall old details.

Tuvimos que cruzar un camino traidor lleno de hielo.

We had to cross a treacherous path full of ice.

Adjective Agreement

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'traidor' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes: 'camino traidor' (m. singular) but 'sonrisa traidora' (f. singular).

Falso vs. Mentiroso

Learners often confuse 'falso' and 'mentiroso'. Remember that 'falso' usually refers to something being fake or not authentic, while 'mentiroso' describes a person or statement that is actively lying or untruthful.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.