mentiroso
masculine
The Brazilian word for "liar" is mentiroso for a man and mentirosa for a woman. The word for "lie" is mentira.
Meaning: person who lies (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| mentiroso | masculine |
| Mentirosa | feminine |
| Mentira | "lie" |
The word also works as an adjective, so Ele é mentiroso means "he is a liar". The verb is mentir, as in Você mentiu para mim.
Which one should you use?
Saying Você é um mentiroso is a direct accusation. Brazilians often soften it with Isso é mentira, which attacks the statement and not the person.
Did you know?
- Brazilians have a children's saying Mentira tem perna curta, "a lie has short legs", meaning lies are quickly caught.
Examples in context
- Ele é um mentiroso.He is a liar.
- Ela é muito mentirosa.She is a big liar.
- Isso é mentira!That is a lie!
Example conversation
Júlia questions her friend Nando about a story he told in Recife.
- JúliaVocê disse que foi à praia.You said you went to the beach.
- NandoEu fui, sim.I did go.
- JúliaMentiroso! Choveu o dia todo.Liar! It rained all day.
