Tu mens
The English phrase "you lie" is translated into French as Tu mens.
Which one should you use?
Use Tu mens when speaking to one person you know well, and Vous mentez when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Quebecois French dialect, Tu racontes des histoires can be used to convey the idea of "you lie".
How does it change in a sentence?
Tu mens is the singular, informal form, while Vous mentez is the plural or formal version of "you lie".
Did you know?
- While Tu mens is a direct accusation, saying Tu racontes des salades is a common idiom meaning 'you are telling stories' or 'you are spinning yarns'.
- The pronoun tu is a cognate with the German 'du' and the Russian 'ты' because they all share a common ancestor in Proto-Indo-European.
- While Tu mens is a direct accusation, French speakers often use C'est pas vrai (it is not true) to avoid the social aggression of calling someone a liar directly.
Examples in context
- Je déteste quand tu mens.I hate it when you lie.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for the act of lying with Tu mens.Tatoeba #12161105 by lbdx, translation #6440250 by CK
- Si tu mens, je te punirai.If you lie, I'll punish you.This sentence shows a consequence of lying using Tu mens.Tatoeba #12654487 by lbdx, translation #9926680 by DJ_Saidez
- Tu mens comme un arracheur de dents.You lie like a rug.This sentence uses the expression with Tu mens to describe someone who lies habitually.Tatoeba #11950462 by lbdx, translation #2849596 by Dejo
- Excusez-moi, mais je pense que vous mentez.Excuse me, but I think you are lying.
- Arrête de mentir, tu mens tout le temps!Stop lying, you lie all the time!
- Vous dites des mensonges, je ne peux pas vous faire confiance.You are lying, I can't trust you.
- Arrête de raconter des histoires, c'est faux!Stop lying, it's false!
- Vous racontez des histoires, je ne peux pas accepter cela.You are telling stories, I can't accept that.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are arguing about a broken vase.
- EmmaTu as cassé le vase, n'est-ce pas ?You broke the vase, didn't you?
- HugoNon, ce n'est pas moi !No, it wasn't me!
- EmmaTu mens, Hugo. Je t'ai vu !You lie, Hugo. I saw you!
- HugoD'accord, je suis désolé.Okay, I am sorry.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.