The Portuguese verb "mentir" means "to lie" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "mentir" across all 5 tenses. New to Portuguese verbs? Start with the Portuguese verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "mentir" in the Present Tense
Presente do indicativo Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | minto |
| tu | you (informal) | mentes |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | mente |
| nós | we | mentimos |
| vós | you all (formal) | mentis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | mentem |
Ele mente aos seus pais.
He lies to his parents.
How to Conjugate "mentir" in the Past (completed) Tense
Pretérito perfeito simples Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | menti |
| tu | you (informal) | mentiste |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | mentiu |
| nós | we | mentimos |
| vós | you all (formal) | mentistes |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | mentiram |
Ele mentiu para evitar problemas.
He lied to avoid problems.
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Pretérito imperfeito Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | mentia |
| tu | you (informal) | mentias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | mentia |
| nós | we | mentíamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | mentíeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | mentiam |
Ele mentia para evitar problemas.
He used to lie to avoid problems.
How to Conjugate "mentir" in the Future Tense
Futuro do presente Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | mentirei |
| tu | you (informal) | mentirás |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | mentirá |
| nós | we | mentiremos |
| vós | you all (formal) | mentireis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | mentirão |
Ele mentirá no seu depoimento.
He will lie in his testimony.
How to Conjugate "mentir" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Condicional Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| eu | I | mentiria |
| tu | you (informal) | mentirias |
| ele/ela/você | he/she/you (formal) | mentiria |
| nós | we | mentiríamos |
| vós | you all (formal) | mentiríeis |
| eles/elas/vocês | they/you all | mentiriam |
Ele mentiria para ganhar tempo.
He would lie to gain time.
Frequently Asked Questions About "mentir"
Is "mentir" regular or irregular in Portuguese?
"Mentir" is an irregular Portuguese verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "mentir" mean in English?
The Portuguese verb "mentir" means "to lie" in English.
How do you conjugate "mentir" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Presente do indicativo): eu → minto, tu → mentes, ele/ela/você → mente, nós → mentimos, vós → mentis, eles/elas/vocês → mentem.
How many tenses does "mentir" have in Portuguese?
"Mentir" is conjugated across 5 tenses in Portuguese: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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