mendax
[ˈmɛn.daːks]feminine, masculine
The Latin word for liar is mendax. Wiktionary also lists falsus.
Meaning: one who tells lies (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mendax | [ˈmɛn.daːks] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈmɛn.daks] (narrow) |
feminine, masculine |
| falsus | [ˈfaɫ.sʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈfal.sus] (narrow) |
masculine |
The term is used to describe someone who tells lies.
Which one should you use?
While mendax refers to the person (the liar), falsus is an adjective meaning 'false' or 'deceitful' that can be used to describe a person's character.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word mendax can change based on its role in a sentence. For example, if 'liar' is the direct object of a sentence, it changes to mendacem. Additionally, the adjective mendax is related to the noun mendacium (a lie), which has the plural form mendacia (lies).
Did you know?
- The root of mendax is the same as the one found in the English word 'amend', which means to fix a fault.
- The English word 'mend' shares the same distant ancestor as mendax, as both relate to the idea of fixing a 'blemish' or 'defect'.
- In Latin, the word mendax can describe an inanimate object that is unreliable, such as a 'lying' scale or a deceptive mirror.
Examples in context
- Thomas mendax pathologicus est.Tom is a pathological liar.This sentence shows how to say someone is a pathological liar using mendax.Tatoeba #8762313 by shekitten, translation #2543994 by CK
- Samius mendax pathologicus fuit.Sami was a pathological liar.This sentence shows how to use the past tense to say someone was a pathological liar using mendax.Tatoeba #8763356 by shekitten, translation #7213746 by OsoHombre
- Donaldus Trump mendax pathologicus est.Donald Trump is a pathological liar.This sentence shows how to state that a person is a pathological liar using mendax.Tatoeba #8759779 by shekitten, translation #8749047 by shekitten
- Noli esse mendax!Don't be a liar!
- Num es fabulator?Are you a liar?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucia and Marcus are arguing about a secret.
- LuciaCur mendax es, Marce?Why are you a liar, Marcus?
- MarcusNon sum mendax, Lucia!I am not a liar, Lucia!
- LuciaScio te mendacem esse.I know that you are a liar.
- MarcusTu mihi non credis.You do not believe me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “liar” translations and entries mendax, falsus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries falsus, mendax, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
