Lie
Definition
Lie can function as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it has two primary meanings: to recline or rest in a flat position, or to make an intentionally false statement. As a noun, it refers to a falsehood or an untruth.
Parts of Speech
- Verb
- Noun
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /laɪ/
- Respelling: LIE
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /laɪ/
- Respelling: LIE
Etymology
The word "lie" originates from two distinct Old English roots. The first, "licgan," means "to rest or recline," derived from Proto-Germanic "*ligjaną" and Proto-Indo-European "*legh-," meaning "to lie down." The second, "lyge," means "falsehood," derived from Proto-Germanic "*lugiz" and Proto-Indo-European "*leugh-," meaning "to tell a falsehood."
Derivatives
- Liar (noun)
- Lying (verb/noun)
- Lied (verb, past tense)
- Lie-in (noun)
- Lie-down (noun)
Synonyms
- Recline
- Deceive
- Untruth
Antonyms
- Stand (for reclining)
- Truth (for falsehood)
- Sit (for reclining)
Usage
The word "lie" is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. As in "He lies on the bed," it describes a physical position. As in "She told a lie about the incident," it refers to dishonesty. The distinction between "lie" (to recline) and "lay" (to place something down) is an important grammatical consideration.
Related Terms
- Truth: The opposite of a falsehood.
- Repose: A state of rest or relaxation.
- Deception: The act of misleading or lying.
Detailed Definitions
Verb (Recline)
- To rest in a flat or horizontal position: Refers to lying down on a surface.
- Example: "He lies on the couch every afternoon."
Verb (Falsehood)
- To make a deliberately false statement: Refers to an act of dishonesty.
- Example: "She lied about completing her homework."
Noun
- A falsehood or untruth: Refers to an intentionally misleading statement.
- Example: "That was a blatant lie."
- The physical position of a reclining body: Refers to the state of being laid down.
- Example: "The lie of the body suggested relaxation."
lie
He lies on the couch every afternoon.
He lied about completing his homework.
That was a blatant lie.
🇨🇳 Chinese (Mandarin)
- "谎言" (huǎngyán) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /xwǎŋ.jɛ̌n/
- English Respell: hwang-yen
- "躺" (tǎng) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /tʰǎŋ/
- English Respell: tahng
🇮🇳 Hindi
- "झूठ" (jhūṭh) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /d͡ʒʱuːʈʰ/
- English Respell: jhooth
- "लेटना" (leṭnā) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /leːʈnaː/
- English Respell: layt-na
🇪🇸 Spanish
- "Mentira" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /men'tiɾa/
- English Respell: men-tee-ra
- "Acostarse" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /akos'tarse/
- English Respell: a-kos-tar-se
🇫🇷 French
- "Mensonge" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /mɑ̃.sɔ̃ʒ/
- English Respell: man-songe
- "Allonger" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /a.lɔ̃.ʒe/
- English Respell: a-lon-zhe
🇸🇦 Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic)
- "كذبة" (kizb) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /kad͡zaba/
- English Respell: kad-zaba
- "اضطجع" (idhtajaa) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /iˈdˤtˤiʒaːʕ/
- English Respell: id-ti-ja-a
🇧🇩 Bengali
- "মিথ্যা" (mithyā) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /mithja/
- English Respell: mith-ya
- "শুইয়া পড়া" (śuiẏā paṛā) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʃujʌ poɹʌ/
- English Respell: shuiya pora
🇷🇺 Russian
- "Ложь" (lozh') – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /loʂ/
- English Respell: losh
- "Лежать" (lezhát') – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /lʲɪˈʐatʲ/
- English Respell: li-zhat'
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- "Mentira" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /mẽ'tirɐ/
- English Respell: men-tee-ra
- "Deitar" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /dɐi'tar/
- English Respell: dey-tar
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- "Bohong" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /bohong/
- English Respell: bo-hong
- "Berbaring" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /bərbariŋ/
- English Respell: ber-baring
🇩🇪 German
- "Lüge" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈlyːɡə/
- English Respell: lue-ge
- "Liegen" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈliːɡən/
- English Respell: lee-gen
🇯🇵 Japanese
- "嘘" (uso) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɯ̟ᵝso/
- English Respell: oo-so
- "横たわる" (yokotawaru) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /joko̞tawaɾɯ̟ᵝ/
- English Respell: yo-ko-ta-wa-ru
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- "Dối trá" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /zoi˧ˀ˦ ʈaː˧ˀ˦/
- English Respell: zoi tra
- "Nằm" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɲam˧ˀ˦/
- English Respell: nyam
🇰🇷 Korean
- "거짓말" (geojismal) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /kʌ.d͡ʑit̚.mal/
- English Respell: guh-jit-mal
- "눕다" (nupda) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /nup̚.ta/
- English Respell: noop-da
🇹🇷 Turkish
- "Yalan" – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /jɑːˈlɑn/
- English Respell: ya-lan
- "Yatmak" – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /jatˈmac/
- English Respell: yat-mak
🇵🇰 Urdu
- "جھوٹ" (jhūṭ) – lie as in telling an untruth.
- IPA Pronunciation: /d͡ʒʱuːʈ/
- English Respell: jhooth
- "لیٹنا" (leṭnā) – lie as in to recline or lay down.
- IPA Pronunciation: /leːʈnaː/
- English Respell: layt-na
