Explanation at your level:
Decir means to say. You use it to talk. 'Yo digo hola' means 'I say hello.' It is a very useful word for your first Spanish lessons.
At this level, you use decir to report what people say. 'Él dice que sí' (He says yes). Remember that it is irregular, so practice the 'yo digo' form often.
You can now use decir with indirect object pronouns. 'Dime la verdad' (Tell me the truth). It is also used in complex sentences with 'que' to report information.
Use decir to express nuance. You might use it in the subjunctive mood, like 'Te dije que vinieras' (I told you to come). It is vital for indirect speech.
At an advanced level, decir appears in idiomatic expressions and formal discourse. You use it to structure arguments or summarize opinions in professional settings, often replacing simpler verbs to sound more precise.
Mastering decir involves understanding its deep etymological roots and its role in literary style. You might use it in passive constructions or archaic structures to add flavor to your writing and speech, reflecting a near-native command of the language.
30秒词汇
- Essential Spanish verb
- Means to say or tell
- Highly irregular conjugation
- Used for reporting speech
Decir is one of the most important verbs in the Spanish language. Think of it as your primary tool for sharing information, expressing opinions, or relaying messages. Whether you are telling a secret or saying 'hello,' you will use this word constantly.
Because it is an irregular verb, it changes its stem in many conjugations, which can be tricky at first. However, once you master the basics, it becomes second nature. You will use it to report what others have said or to give instructions to someone else.
The word decir comes directly from the Latin verb dicere, which also meant 'to say' or 'to tell.' This root is incredibly powerful and has influenced many other languages, including English.
If you look at English words like dictate, diction, or predict, you are actually looking at the same Latin root! Over centuries of evolution, the Latin dicere smoothed out into the modern Spanish decir, losing its final consonant but keeping its core meaning intact.
You use decir when you want to report speech. A common pattern is decir + que (to say that). For example, 'Ella dice que viene' (She says that she is coming).
It is also used for giving orders or advice, often followed by an indirect object pronoun. If you want to tell someone something, you must use the indirect object (me, te, le, nos, les) to specify who is receiving the message.
1. Decir la verdad: To tell the truth. Example: 'Siempre debes decir la verdad.'
2. Ni que decir tiene: It goes without saying. Example: 'Ni que decir tiene que estoy feliz.'
3. ¿Qué quieres decir?: What do you mean? Example: 'No entiendo, ¿qué quieres decir?'
4. Dicho y hecho: No sooner said than done. Example: 'Me pidió ayuda y, dicho y hecho, fui.'
5. Decir por decir: To speak just for the sake of it. Example: 'No le hagas caso, solo dice por decir.'
Decir is highly irregular. In the present tense, the 'e' changes to 'i' in most forms (yo digo, tú dices, él dice). The past tense (pretérito) is also irregular: dije, dijiste, dijo.
Pronunciation varies by region. In Latin America, it sounds like 'de-SEER'. In Spain, the 'c' is often pronounced with a soft 'th' sound, like 'de-THEER'. Practice the 'j' sound in the past tense, which is a soft, breathy 'h' sound.
Fun Fact
The English word 'dictator' comes from the same root.
Pronunciation Guide
Spanish pronunciation
Latin American pronunciation
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'j' in past tense
- Ignoring the stem change
- Dropping the final 'r'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to listen
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Present indicative
Yo digo
Preterite
Yo dije
Imperative
Dime
Examples by Level
Yo digo hola.
I say hello.
First person singular.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ella dice la verdad.
Dime tu nombre.
Ellos dicen que no.
No digas eso.
Él dice que está cansado.
Nosotros decimos la verdad.
¿Qué dices tú?
Digo que es tarde.
Me dijo que vendría mañana.
No me digas mentiras.
Dicho esto, nos fuimos.
Es difícil decir que no.
Dime qué piensas.
Dicen que va a llover.
No sé qué decir.
Dije que lo haría.
Te dije que tuvieras cuidado.
No hay nada más que decir.
Dicho sea de paso, es tarde.
Se dice que es muy inteligente.
Dime qué es lo que quieres.
No me digas que ya terminaste.
Dicho y hecho, lo hizo.
Es un decir, no te enfades.
Dicho de otro modo, es inaceptable.
No es por decir, pero es mejor así.
Diga lo que diga, no cambiaré.
Se dice y se comenta en el pueblo.
Dicho sea con el debido respeto.
No se puede decir que no lo intentó.
Dime tú qué harías en mi lugar.
Dicho lo cual, procedamos.
Dicho de forma sucinta, fracasó.
Ni que decir tiene que es vital.
Diga lo que diga, el destino es incierto.
Se dice que la fortuna favorece al audaz.
Dicho esto, la sesión queda clausurada.
No es por decir, pero el tiempo apremia.
Dime tú si no es una ironía.
Dicho sea de paso, el informe es correcto.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"decir cuatro verdades"
To tell someone the harsh truth
Le dije cuatro verdades.
casual"dicho y hecho"
Done immediately
Dicho y hecho, lo arregló.
neutral"ni que decir tiene"
It goes without saying
Ni que decir tiene que es importante.
formal"decir por decir"
To speak without thinking
Solo dice por decir.
casual"es un decir"
It's just an expression
No te enojes, es un decir.
neutral"diga lo que diga"
No matter what is said
Diga lo que diga, no iré.
neutralEasily Confused
both involve speaking
hablar is the act, decir is the content
Hablo español, pero no digo nada.
both mean to tell
contar is for stories/numbers
Cuéntame una historia.
similar sound
pedir is to ask for
Pedí un café.
opposite of saying yes
negar is to deny
Él niega lo que dijo.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + decir + que + clause
Ella dice que viene.
Indirect object + decir + direct object
Dime la verdad.
Decir + adjetivo
No digas nada malo.
Decir + infinitivo
Me dijo qué hacer.
Decir + adverbio
Dilo claramente.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
相关
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
常见错误
Must include indirect object pronoun.
Commonly confused with 'negar'.
Often misspelled as 'dijistes'.
Use 'dar' for giving info.
Use 'hacer' for questions.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a megaphone.
Daily use
Use it for reporting.
Cultural nuance
Very common in daily talk.
Grammar rule
Always use indirect objects.
Say it right
Focus on the 'c'.
Don't say 'decir' for questions
Use 'hacer'.
Did you know?
Same root as dictation.
Study smart
Flashcards for conjugations.
Practice
Write daily logs.
Listen
Watch Spanish news.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Decir sounds like 'the seer' who tells the future.
Visual Association
A person speaking into a megaphone.
Word Web
挑战
Say five things you did today.
词源
Latin
Original meaning: To speak or tell
文化背景
None
Direct translation of 'to say'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- Dime el plan
- Dice el jefe
- No puedo decir
At school
- ¿Qué dijo el profesor?
- Dilo otra vez
- No sé qué decir
Travel
- Dime dónde está
- Dime el precio
- No me digas
Daily life
- Dime la verdad
- Dice mi madre
- Dicho y hecho
Conversation Starters
"¿Qué dices sobre este tema?"
"Dime algo interesante."
"Si pudieras decir algo al mundo, ¿qué sería?"
"No me digas que ya es tarde."
"Dime qué piensas de esto."
Journal Prompts
Escribe sobre algo que alguien te dijo hoy.
Describe un dicho popular de tu país.
Explica por qué es importante decir la verdad.
Escribe una conversación breve usando 'decir'.
常见问题
8 个问题Yes, very.
No, use 'hacer' for questions.
Le dije.
Yes, very often.
No, 'hablar' is to speak.
Dije.
Yes, '¿Qué quieres decir?'
Yes.
自我测试
Yo ___ la verdad.
Conjugation for 'yo'.
What does 'Dime' mean?
Imperative form.
Decir is a regular verb.
It is highly irregular.
Word
意思
Common collocation.
Subject-verb-object.
得分： /5
Summary
Decir is the essential verb for reporting speech and sharing information in Spanish.
- Essential Spanish verb
- Means to say or tell
- Highly irregular conjugation
- Used for reporting speech
Memory Palace
Imagine a megaphone.
Daily use
Use it for reporting.
Cultural nuance
Very common in daily talk.
Grammar rule
Always use indirect objects.
例句
Él siempre dice la verdad.
Related Content
相关表达
更多communication词汇
acento
A2A distinctive manner of pronunciation; a stress on a syllable.
aceptar
A1To accept.
acerca de
A2On the subject of; regarding; about.
acertado
A2Correct, appropriate, or well-chosen.
aclaración
A2Clarification, the action of making something clearer.
aclarar
B1To make something clearer or easier to understand; to clarify.
aconsejar
A2To advise; to give counsel or guidance.
acuerdo
A2An agreement or a mutual understanding.
de acuerdo
A1okay, agreed
Adiós
A1Goodbye
