Inklingo

How to Say "falsehood" in Spanish

English → Spanish

mentira

men-TEE-rah/menˈtiɾa/

NounA1General
Use 'mentira' when referring to a specific untruth or a lie told by someone, especially in everyday conversation.
A simple storybook character looking slightly guilty, featuring an exaggeratedly long wooden nose, symbolizing the act of telling a lie.

Examples

No puedes confiar en él, siempre dice mentiras.

You can't trust him, he always tells lies.

Descubrimos que toda su historia era una mentira.

We discovered that his entire story was a falsehood.

¡Qué mentira tan grande me contaste!

What a big lie you told me!

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.

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.)

falsa

/fal-sa//ˈfalsa/

NounC1Formal/Literary
Use 'falsa' when referring to a more abstract or constructed untruth, a situation that is not genuine, or a deliberate deception.
A small character is covering their mouth with their hand while speaking to another character, symbolizing that they are telling an untruth.

Examples

Su vida estaba construida sobre una falsa.

Her life was built upon a falsehood.

Noun Use

When used as a noun, 'falsa' usually refers to the abstract concept of untruth, rather than a specific spoken lie (for which you would use 'mentira').

Mentira vs. Falsa

Learners often confuse 'mentira' and 'falsa' because both mean falsehood. Remember that 'mentira' is the everyday word for 'lie,' while 'falsa' is more about a deeper, often constructed, untruth or deception.

Related Translations

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