untruth
Loading your saved state.
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.
fairy tale
Märchen and Unwahrheit can both refer to something that is not true. Märchen additionally highlights the invented, often implausible story and the speaker’s disparaging judgment, whereas Unwahrheit refers more neutrally to a false statement. “Unwahrheit” is more appropriate for specific false information, while “Märchen” is used for an invented story.
Er sagte seinen Freunden die Unwahrheit über den Termin der Reise.
He told his friends an untruth about the date of the trip.
Er erzählte seinen Freunden ein Märchen über eine angebliche Reise zum Mond.
He told his friends a tall tale about an alleged trip to the moon.
