French word

mentir

Pronunciation

IPA/mɑ̃tiʁ/

Meaning

  • verblie

Example

Ne mens pas.

Don't lie.

Illustration for mentir (lie)

More examples

Il a décidé de ne plus mentir à sa famille.

He decided not to lie to his family anymore.

Core concept

A speaker knowingly presents an invented version of a fact as true.

Common phrases

  • mentir à quelqu'un

    lie to someone

  • mentir sur quelque chose

    lie about something

Similar words

tromper: To deceive someone into forming a false belief or expectation.
se tromper: To be mistaken in one's judgment or memory.

Definition in French

Prononcer sciemment une fausseté à propos d'un fait.

Word origin

French mentir comes through Old French from Latin mentiri, a verb meaning to tell a lie.

Usage tips

  • Mentir normally takes à for the person deceived, as in mentir à quelqu'un.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word