Valhe

Valhe is a Finnish noun meaning "lie" or "falsehood." It denotes a statement or representation that contradicts the truth and is used in everyday speech, literature, journalism and legal contexts to describe intentional or unintentional deception.

In Finnish grammar the word appears in forms such as valhetta (partitive) and valheet (plural). Related verbs and derivatives include valehdella (to lie), valehtelu (lying or prevarication) and valheellinen (false, deceitful). The concept overlaps with terms for misinformation and untruths but typically emphasizes deliberate assertion contrary to fact.

Etymologically, valhe is part of the Finnic lexical set for falsehoods and has cognates or related forms in other Finnic languages. The word figures in common expressions and proverbs; for example, "valheen jalat ovat lyhyet" ("lies have short legs"), a proverb warning that lies are soon exposed.

In legal and ethical contexts, Finnish law distinguishes different forms of false statements and fraudulent behavior; discussions of valhe may appear in criminal, civil and administrative settings when assessing intent, harm and responsibility. In literature and rhetoric, valhe is a frequent theme used to explore truth, identity and social trust.