The presente de subjuntivo of mentir is used to express desires, doubts, or uncertainties about lying, as well as to convey hypothetical or subjunctive situations involving lying. For example, Es importante que no mientas. (It’s important that you don’t lie.)

Mentir is a stem-changing verb, meaning the vowel in the stem changes from e to ie in all subjunctive forms except nosotros and vosotros. This pattern is common among Spanish verbs with stems ending in -ent.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Mentir (to lie) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

Mentir generally means “to lie” or “to tell an untruth”, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To lie or deceive: For example, Es importante que no mienta (It’s important that you don’t lie).

To be dishonest or insincere: For example, No creo que mienta sobre sus intenciones (I don’t think he’s being dishonest about his intentions).

To exaggerate or embellish the truth: For example, Aunque mienta un poco, sigue siendo mi amigo (Even though he embellishes the truth a bit, he’s still my friend).

To pretend or feign: For example, Finge que mienta para que no sospechen (Pretend that you’re lying so they don’t suspect anything).

To be unreliable or untrustworthy (colloquial): For example, No puedo creer que mienta tanto (I can’t believe how unreliable he is).

Examples

Examples of Mentir in the Subjunctive Mood

No es bueno que mientas a tus amigos. (It’s not good for you to lie to your friends.)

Espero que no mientas en tu solicitud de empleo. (I hope you don’t lie on your job application.)

Es importante que mintamos lo menos posible. (It’s important that we lie as little as possible.)

Aunque te enojes, no quiero que mientas. (Even if you get angry, I don’t want you to lie.)

Ojalá que nunca más mientan en esta familia. (I hope they never lie in this family again.)

Es mejor que mientas lo menos posible. (It’s better if you lie as little as possible.)

Aunque te parezca una buena idea, no mientas. (Even if it seems like a good idea, don’t lie.)

Es fundamental que nunca mintáis en el trabajo. (It’s essential that you never lie at work.)

Quizás sea tentador, pero no mientas. (It may be tempting, but don’t lie.)

Preferiría que mientas lo menos posible. (I’d prefer if you lie as little as possible.)

Aunque todos lo hagan, no mientas. (Even if everyone does it, don’t lie.)

Es mejor que mintamos solo cuando sea necesario. (It’s better if we only lie when necessary.)

Ojalá que nunca más mientan en esta empresa. (I hope they never lie in this company again.)

Aunque te parezca inofensivo, no mientas. (Even if it seems harmless, don’t lie.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Mentir (to lie) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.