Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| лжец | lžec | [ɫʐɛt͡s] (narrow) | masculine |
| лгун | lgun | [ɫɡun] (narrow) | masculine |
| лгу́нья | lgúnʹja | feminine | |
| врун | vrun | [vrun] (narrow) | masculine |
| вру́нья | vrúnʹja | feminine | |
| обма́нщик | obmánščik | masculine | |
| обма́нщица | obmánščica | feminine | |
| вруни́шка | vruníška | feminine, masculine | |
| враль | vralʹ | [vralʲ] (narrow) | masculine |
| бреху́н | brexún | masculine | |
| бреху́нья | brexúnʹja | colloquial, feminine | |
| брехло́ | brexló | colloquial, neuter | |
| трепло́ | trepló | colloquial, neuter | |
| пиздабо́л | pizdaból | masculine, vulgar | |
| пиздаплёт | pizdapljót | masculine, vulgar | |
| пизду́н | pizdún | masculine, vulgar | |
| пизду́нья | pizdúnʹja | feminine, vulgar |
The various Russian words for "liar" range from highly formal and serious terms to extremely vulgar slang. Some words specifically target a person who tells falsehoods, while others describe someone who deceives, cheats or spreads false information to defame others.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the intensity and nature of the lie. лжец is the most formal and serious term, often used in literature or legalistic contexts. In contrast, врун is more common in everyday speech and is less heavy or accusatory than лжец. обманщик (masculine) and обма́нщица (feminine) specifically imply someone who deceives or cheats others, rather than just someone who tells falsehoods. For those who spread false information or engage in defamation, the formal term Клеветник is used. If you want to describe a "nonsense-talker" or someone who is colloquially lying, you might use бреху́н (masculine), бреху́нья (feminine) or the neuter forms брехло́ and трепло́.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Russian offers a wide spectrum of registers. For formal, serious or literary contexts, use лжец or Клеветник. For neutral, everyday descriptions of a deceiver, use обманщик (masculine) or обма́нщица (feminine). For common, informal speech, врун (masculine) and вру́нья (feminine) are used, as well as the informal враль (masculine). Diminutive and playful forms like вруни́шка can be used to call someone a "little liar" (like a child). Colloquial and slightly derogatory terms include бреху́н (masculine), бреху́нья (feminine) and брехло́ (neuter). Finally, highly vulgar terms like пиздабо́л, пиздаплёт, пизду́н (masculine) and пизду́нья (feminine) should be avoided in any polite or professional conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Gender-specific forms are required when referring to the person's sex. To refer to a female liar using the root of 'лгать' (to lie), use the feminine form лгу́нья. To refer to a female liar using the root of 'врать' (to lie), use the feminine form вру́нья. The diminutive вруни́шка can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects.
How do you pronounce it?
lžec
Did you know?
- In many Russian contexts, using the highly vulgar terms like пиздабо́л is not just offensive, but is considered a complete breakdown of social decorum that can lead to physical altercations.
- The suffix -ун in words like лгун or врун is a common way in Russian to turn a verb into a noun that describes a person who performs that action habitually.
Examples in context
- Ну ты и врун!You're such a liar.This sentence uses the masculine form врун.Tatoeba #2104453 by marafon, translation #1932063 by Spamster
- Том вор и лжец.Tom is a thief and a liar.This sentence uses the masculine form лжец.Tatoeba #4092738 by odexed, translation #6877408 by CK
- Он лжец, и ты тоже.He's a liar, and you're another.Tatoeba #444193 by Hellerick, translation #289335 by sundown
- Мне кажется, он врун. Никогда не верьте его историям.I think he is a liar. Never believe his stories.
- Никто не хочет работать с ним. Он обманщик.No one wants to work with him. He is a deceiver.
- 134 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Anastasia are discussing a person from their past.
- Дмитрий DmitryОн настоящий лжец.On nastoyashchiy ldets.He is a real liar.
- Анастасия AnastasiaЯ знала это с самого начала.Ya znala eto s samogo nachala.I knew it from the very beginning.
- Дмитрий DmitryТы верила его словам?Ty verala yego slovam?Did you believe his words?
- Анастасия AnastasiaНет, я всегда его подозревала.Net, ya vsegda yego podozrevala.No, I always suspected him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “liar” translations and entries лжец, лгун, врун, враль, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries врун, лгун, лжец, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
