untruth
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untruth
A statement or information that does not correspond to the truth; a lie. Often used in the expression 'die Unwahrheit sagen' (to tell an untruth).
Der Zeuge wurde angeklagt, weil er vor Gericht absichtlich die Unwahrheit gesagt hatte.
The witness was charged because he had deliberately told an untruth in court.
The word is made up of the prefix 'Un-' and the noun 'Wahrheit' (truth). So it literally means 'non-truth'.
Seine Aussage war eine Mischung aus Wahrheit und Unwahrheit.
His statement was a mixture of truth and untruth.
The most common use of this word is in the fixed expression 'die Unwahrheit sagen' (to tell an untruth). This construction always needs the definite article 'die'.
Er wurde beschuldigt, vor dem Ausschuss die Unwahrheit gesagt zu haben.
He was accused of having told an untruth before the committee.
The expression 'die Unwahrheit sagen' (to tell an untruth) is a formal and indirect way of saying that someone is not telling the truth. It is often used in official situations or out of politeness.
Der Politiker behauptete, er habe niemals wissentlich die Unwahrheit gesagt.
The politician claimed that he had never knowingly told an untruth.
truth
'die Wahrheit' and 'die Unwahrheit' are direct opposites. 'die Wahrheit' is a statement that matches reality. 'die Unwahrheit' is a statement that is not true; it often means a lie. The words can be confused because they look very similar. The prefix 'Un-' is important: it turns 'Wahrheit' into its opposite. Very typical expressions are 'die Wahrheit sagen' (to tell the truth) and 'die Unwahrheit sagen' (to tell an untruth).
Im Gespräch mit dem Chef wollte Max nicht die Unwahrheit sagen.
In the conversation with his boss, Max did not want to tell an untruth.
Vor dem Termin sagt sie ihrer Schwester die Wahrheit über den Fehler.
Before the appointment, she tells her sister the truth about the mistake.