Inklingo

How to Say "untrue" in Spanish

English → Spanish

falso

FAHL-soh/ˈfalso/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'falso' when referring to a statement, fact, or information that is incorrect or not real.
A large square wooden block resting against a round hole on a wooden surface, illustrating an incorrect fit.

Examples

Esa noticia es completamente falsa.

That news is completely false.

¿Es verdadero o falso que la capital de Chile es Santiago?

Is it true or false that the capital of Chile is Santiago?

El rumor era falso, nadie perdió su trabajo.

The rumor was untrue; nobody lost their job.

Adjective Agreement

Remember that 'falso' must match the thing it describes. If you are talking about a feminine word like 'historia' (story), you must say 'falsa' ('una historia falsa').

Falso vs. Equivocado

Mistake: “Usar 'falso' para describir a una persona que cometió un error (e.g., 'El estudiante está falso').”

Correction: Use 'equivocado' when a person is wrong or mistaken ('El estudiante está equivocado'). 'Falso' is usually reserved for things or for people who are deceitful (see next definition).

mentido

men-TEE-doh/menˈtiðo/

AdjectiveB2General
Use 'mentido' when describing a claim, accusation, or statement that has been presented as true but is actually false, often implying deceit.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a simple wooden signpost with an arrow pointing straight up, but the dirt path underneath curves sharply in the opposite direction, illustrating a false direction or statement.

Examples

La acusación mentida le causó mucho daño.

The false accusation caused him a lot of harm.

No podemos confiar en esas promesas mentidas.

We cannot trust those untrue promises.

Agreement is Key

When 'mentido' acts as an adjective (describing a noun), it must change its ending to match the noun's gender and number: 'una historia mentida' (feminine singular), 'los hechos mentidos' (masculine plural).

Falso vs. Mentido

Learners often confuse 'falso' and 'mentido'. Remember that 'falso' is broad and applies to any untruth (like a false tooth or a false alarm), while 'mentido' specifically describes something that has been falsely claimed or stated, often with intent to deceive.

Related Translations

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