mentiroso
neutral, masculine
In Portugal a liar is mentiroso for a man and mentirosa for a woman. The informal aldrabão is also very common, with the feminine aldrabona.
Meaning: person who lies (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| mentiroso | neutral, masculine |
| aldrabão | informal, Portugal |
| mentirosa | neutral, feminine |
Estás a mentir means "you are lying". Calling someone mentiroso is a serious accusation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Aldrabão is typical of Portugal and can also mean a cheat or a trickster. The verb is aldrabar.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Portugal "you are lying" uses estar a plus the infinitive, so Estás a mentir, while in Brazil people say Você está mentindo.
Did you know?
- The Portuguese saying Mentira tem perna curta, "a lie has short legs", warns that lies do not get far.
Examples in context
- Ele é um mentiroso.He is a liar.
- Não acredito, és um aldrabão!I do not believe it, you are a trickster!
- Estás a mentir-me.You are lying to me.
Example conversation
Pedro and his sister Inês argue about a broken vase in their parents' home in Viseu.
- InêsFoste tu que partiste o jarro.You broke the vase.
- PedroNão fui! Estás a mentir.I did not! You are lying.
- InêsAldrabão!Liar!
