mentí
/menti/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I lied" is translated into Spanish as mentí.
This phrase is used to admit that you have told something that is not true. When specifying who you lied to, you will typically use the verb with an indirect object pronoun, such as le mentí (I lied to him/her/you formal).
Which one should you use?
While mentí refers to a specific, completed instance of lying, the form mentía is the imperfect form used to describe an ongoing state or a habitual action in the past, meaning "I was lying" or "I used to lie".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form mentí is the first-person singular preterite indicative of the verb mentir. In Spanish, the verb mentir is typically used with an indirect object pronoun like le to indicate the person who was lied to.
How do you pronounce it?
/menti/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly try to use the verb decir (to say/tell) to mean "to lie", but in Spanish, you must use mentir.
Did you know?
- While mentí is the standard way to admit a lie, if you are admitting you 'played' or 'tricked' someone, you might use te tomé el pelo, which literally means 'I took your hair'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a 'white lie' is called a mentira piadosa, which literally translates to a 'merciful lie'.
- Admitting mentí can be seen as a breach of confianza, a deep level of social trust and intimacy that is more complex than the English word 'trust'.
Examples in context
- Yo le mentí a Tom.I lied to Tom.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form mentí with an indirect object.Tatoeba #4603218 by Francisco_M, translation #2261959 by CK
- Le mentí a mi novia sobre mi edad.I lied to my girlfriend about my age.This sentence demonstrates how to use mentí when providing details about what was lied about.Tatoeba #1503345 by marcelostockle, translation #1109904 by Scott
- Le mentí a mi novio sobre mi edad.I lied to my boyfriend about my age.Tatoeba #1503346 by marcelostockle, translation #1109903 by Scott
- Le debo confesar que mentí sobre mi participación en ese proyecto.I must confess that I lied about my involvement in that project.
- Reconozco que yo dije algo falso en mi testimonio anterior.I acknowledge that I said something false in my previous testimony.
- Lamentablemente, debo confesar que falté a la verdad en mis declaraciones anteriores.Unfortunately, I must confess that I lied in my previous statements.
- Perdóname por haberte mentido. No volverá a suceder.Forgive me for lying to you. It won't happen again.
- Me inventé algo para justificar mi ausencia.I made something up to justify my absence.
- Lo siento, te debo confesar que no dije la verdad sobre lo que ocurrió ayer.I'm sorry, I must confess that I didn't tell the truth about what happened yesterday.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier confesses his mistake to Elena at home.
- Javier¿Realmente me dijiste la verdad?Did you really tell me the truth?
- ElenaNo, Javier, mentí.No, Javier, I lied.
- JavierEso me duele mucho.That hurts me a lot.
- ElenaLo siento, lo siento mucho.I am sorry, I am so sorry.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
