Palabra Lexi · Spanish verb conjugation

Decir conjugation: main tenses of "to say, to tell" in Spanish

Decir means "to say, to tell". Irregular -ir verb (yo digo, e → i). Present tense: digo, dices, dice, decimos, decís, dicen. Preterite: dije, dijiste, dijo… The past participle is dicho and the gerund is diciendo.

Pronunciation is spelled out in English, one syllable at a time, with the stressed syllable in capitals. Highlighted forms differ from the regular pattern. Tap any form to hear it.

Decir in the indicative

Compound tenses of decir

The helper verb is conjugated while decir stays in one form: the participle dicho, the gerund diciendo or the infinitive.

Decir in the subjunctive

Decir in the imperative

What is irregular about decir

Decir is irregular almost everywhere. In the present, yo is digo and the stem changes e → i under stress: dices, dice, dicen, but decimos, decís. The preterite stem is dij- with unaccented endings and -eron in the third person plural: dije, dijiste, dijo, dijeron. The future and conditional shrink to dir-: diré, diría. The participle is dicho, the gerund diciendo, the tú command di.

Do not confuse: one form, two verbs

• di — also dar: di here is tú, imperative; for dar it is yo, preterite.

Common mistakes with decir

• dijieron → dijeron

  After the j of the preterite stem the ending is -eron, not -ieron. The same happens in trajeron.

• deciré, deciría → diré, diría

  The future and conditional are built on the short stem dir-, not on the infinitive: diré, dirás, dirá.

• he decido → he dicho

  The participle is irregular: dicho. The word decido does exist, but it means "I decide", from decidir.

When to use decir

Decir is "to say" or "to tell" something: Dice que sí, Dime la verdad. Hablar is "to speak, to talk" and does not introduce what was said. Es decir means "that is to say".

Decir in sentences

¿Qué dices?
What are you saying?

Me dijo que no podía venir.
She told me she couldn't come.

Te lo diré mañana.
I'll tell you tomorrow.

Yo no diría eso.
I wouldn't say that.

No digas nada.
Don't say anything.

Practice the decir conjugation