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How to Say "falsehood" in Spanish

English → Spanish

mentira

men-TEE-rahmenˈtiɾa

nounA1general
Use 'mentira' when referring to a specific lie or the act of lying, often in everyday conversation. It's the most common and general term for a falsehood.
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.)

falsedad

fal-seh-DAHDfalsedád

nounB1general
Choose 'falsedad' to describe an untrue statement, idea, or a general quality of being false, often used in contexts like news reports or accusations.
A wooden puppet with a very long nose standing in a simple room.

Examples

La noticia estaba llena de falsedades sobre el presidente.

The news was full of falsehoods about the president.

Es una falsedad absoluta decir que yo no estuve allí.

It is an absolute untruth to say that I wasn't there.

No podemos permitir que esta falsedad se difunda más.

We cannot allow this falsehood to spread any further.

Always Feminine

Spanish words ending in '-dad' (like truth, city, or falsehood) are always feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with this word.

Don't use 'el'

Mistake: “El falsedad es malo.”

Correction: La falsedad es mala. (Nouns ending in -dad are feminine, and adjectives must match).

falsa

fal-saˈfalsa

nounC1general
Use 'falsa' when referring to a lie as a constructed untruth or a deceitful situation, often implying a more significant or 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').

Choosing Between 'Mentira' and 'Falsedad'

Learners often confuse 'mentira' and 'falsedad'. Remember that 'mentira' is typically for a specific lie someone tells, while 'falsedad' refers more to the quality of being untrue or a collection of untruths, like in a report.

Related Translations

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