¿por qué mientes?
The English phrase "why are you lying?" can be translated into Spanish as ¿por qué mientes?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone for the reason they are not telling the truth. You can also use the variation ¿por qué me mientes? to specifically ask "why are you lying to me?", which is achieved by adding the indirect object pronoun me before the verb.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of por qué (why) and mientes (you lie/are lying).
Which one should you use?
The phrase uses the present indicative tense, which in Spanish can express both a habitual action and an action happening right now, similar to the English 'why are you lying?'
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the formal "you" when asking why someone is lying, use the third-person singular form miente with the pronoun usted, as seen in ¿por qué miente usted?
Did you know?
- To describe a 'white lie', Spanish speakers use the phrase mentira piadosa, which translates literally as a 'merciful lie'.
- When someone is caught in a lie, a common idiomatic response is ¡no me vengas con cuentos!, which literally tells the person 'do not come to me with stories'.
- The verb mentir can be used as a reflexive verb mentirse, which specifically means 'to deceive oneself' or 'to lie to oneself'.
Example conversation
Javier confronts Sofía after finding out she hid a secret.
- JavierSé que no es cierto. ¿Por qué mientes?I know it's not true. Why are you lying?
- SofíaNo quería que te pusieras triste, Javier.I didn't want you to get sad, Javier.
- JavierEs mejor la verdad, aunque sea difícil.The truth is better, even if it is difficult.
- SofíaTienes razón, lo siento mucho.You are right, I am very sorry.
