jhooth

Jhooth is a noun in Hindustani languages (Hindi and Urdu) meaning a lie or falsehood. It is used to refer to a statement that is intentionally untrue, or a person who habitually lies. The related verb phrase 'jhooth bolna' means to tell a lie, while 'jhootha' (or 'jhutha' in transliteration) describes something false or counterfeit. In everyday speech, jhooth is used across South Asia and in diaspora communities to discuss deception, misinformation, or exaggeration.

The term is common in Hindi, Urdu, and related languages such as Punjabi. Etymology traces through Hindustani from older Indo-Persian linguistic layers; its precise origins are debated, but it is frequently connected with Persian/Arabic loanwords in Urdu as well as inherited Indic lexicon in Hindi. The spelling in Urdu is جھوٹ and in Devanagari as झूठ.

Culturally, lying is generally disparaged in religious and ethical discourse in South Asia. The concept appears in folktales, poetry, and modern media, where characters are judged by their truthfulness. Language usage also reflects nuances: 'jhooth' can denote a minor untruth or a major fabrication, and speakers may distinguish between 'jhooth' and 'sach' (truth). In contemporary contexts, fact-checking and critical evaluation are touted as defenses against falsehoods in journalism and public discourse. Overall, jhooth remains a common, loaded term in Hindustani speech that signals deviation from truth and can carry moral or social judgments.