How to Say “Not True” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say “not true” in Spanish! Whether you want to express that something is false or incorrect in a formal or informal context, we have got you covered. Additionally, we’ll provide you with tips, example sentences, and regional variations to enhance your understanding. ¡Vamos!

Formal Ways to Say “Not True”

When you need to convey that something is not true in a formal setting, you can use different phrases or expressions. Here are a few commonly used ones:

1. No es verdad: This simple and straightforward phrase translates to “It’s not true.” It’s commonly used in formal situations to politely deny something or contradict a statement. For example: “No es verdad que ella haya ganado la lotería” (It’s not true that she won the lottery).
2. No es correcto: This phrase is appropriate when you want to point out that something is not correct. For instance: “No es correcto afirmar que la Tierra es plana” (It is not correct to claim that the Earth is flat).
3. No es cierto: When you want to express that something is not true or real, you can use this phrase. For example: “No es cierto que el proyecto haya sido cancelado” (It is not true that the project has been canceled).
4. No es exacto: Use this phrase to indicate that something is not exact or accurate. For instance: “La información proporcionada no es exacta” (The provided information is not accurate).
5. No concuerda: If something doesn’t agree or align with the truth or facts, you can use this phrase. For example: “Lo que dices no concuerda con la realidad” (What you say does not match with reality).

Informal Ways to Say “Not True”

When you’re in a casual or informal context, you might want to use more colloquial expressions to convey that something is not true. Here are some commonly used informal phrases to express falsehood:

1. No es verdad: Similar to the formal context, this phrase works well when you want to say “It’s not true” in an informal setting.
2. No es cierto: This phrase is interchangeable with “no es verdad” and can be used informally as well.
3. No es así: Use this expression to say “It’s not like that” or “That’s not how it is.” For example: “No es así, no dijo eso” (It’s not like that, he didn’t say that).
4. Es mentira: This colloquial phrase translates to “It’s a lie.” It’s commonly used among friends or acquaintances to express disbelief or disagreement. For instance: “¡Es mentira lo que estás diciendo!” (What you’re saying is a lie!).
5. No está diciendo la verdad: If somebody isn’t telling the truth, you can use this phrase to indicate that “they are not telling the truth.” For example: “No está diciendo la verdad sobre lo sucedido” (They are not telling the truth about what happened).

Tips and Examples

To help you further, here are some practical tips and example sentences to understand the usage of these phrases:

Tips:

• When in doubt, the phrases “no es verdad” and “no es cierto” work well in both formal and informal contexts.
• Pay attention to the verb conjugation to match the subject of the sentence.
• Combine these phrases with facial expressions and body language to emphasize your point.
• Practice pronouncing these phrases to improve your overall fluency in Spanish.

Examples:

• No es verdad que ella haya ganado la lotería. (It’s not true that she won the lottery.)
• No es correcto afirmar que la Tierra es plana. (It is not correct to claim that the Earth is flat.)
• No es cierto que el proyecto haya sido cancelado. (It is not true that the project has been canceled.)
• La información proporcionada no es exacta. (The provided information is not accurate.)
• Lo que dices no concuerda con la realidad. (What you say does not match with reality.)
• No es así, no dijo eso. (It’s not like that, he didn’t say that.)
• ¡Es mentira lo que estás diciendo! (What you’re saying is a lie!)
• No está diciendo la verdad sobre lo sucedido. (They are not telling the truth about what happened.)

Regional Variations

Spanish is spoken across various regions, and as a result, there might be slight variations in how “not true” is expressed. However, the phrases mentioned earlier are widely understood and used throughout the Spanish-speaking world. It’s worth noting that certain regions might have their own unique idiomatic expressions, but learning the fundamental phrases ensures effective communication in most situations.

Remember, mastering these words and phrases will greatly enhance your ability to express and comprehend the concept of “not true” in Spanish.

We hope this comprehensive guide has proved valuable to you! Good luck with your language learning journey and keep practicing to become more fluent in Spanish. ¡Adiós!