How to Say "untrue" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “untrue” is “falso” — use 'falso' when referring to a statement, fact, or information that is incorrect or not real.
FAHL-sohˈfalso
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).
men-TEE-dohmenˈtiðo
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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