Ich lüge
/ɪç ˈlyːɡə/word by word
The English phrase "I am lying" is translated into German as Ich lüge.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Berlin dialect, you may encounter the phrase Ick lüje. to mean "I am lying."
How does it change in a sentence?
Because German does not have a continuous aspect, Ich lüge is used for both "I lie" and "I am lying".
Did you know?
- If you want to say you are 'lying down' to rest, you must use the verb liegen instead of lügen, as they sound similar but have completely different meanings.
- In German, a 'white lie' is called eine Notlüge, which literally translates to a 'necessity lie'.
- In some regional contexts, the act of lying can be described using flunkern, a milder word for 'fibbing' that is less accusatory than lügen.
Examples in context
- Behaupten Sie, dass ich lüge?Are you suggesting that I am lying?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is suggesting that you are lying using the form Ich lüge.Tatoeba #5820704 by maaster, translation #7155484 by Kiwi
- Wenn ich behauptet habe, dass ich schon Erfahrung im Verkauf habe, dann lüge ich.If I claimed to have experience in sales, then I am lying.
- Ich flunker ein bisschen, wenn ich behaupte, dass ich die Hausaufgaben erledigt habe.I am fibbing a little when I claim to have finished my homework.
- Ich lüge nicht, das ist die Wahrheit.I am not lying, that is the truth.
- Glaub mir, ich lüge nie.Believe me, I never lie.
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are discussing a small mistake at work.
- MaximilianIch lüge nicht, ich habe den Fehler nicht gemacht.I am not lying, I did not make the mistake.
- SarahAber alle sagen, dass es deine Schuld war.But everyone says it was your fault.
- MaximilianDas stimmt nicht, ich lüge nicht.That is not true, I am not lying.
- SarahDann müssen wir die Sache klären.Then we must clear the matter up.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Ich, Lüge) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
