How to Conjugate Decir in Spanish
Decir - to say, tell
Present Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Decir in the Present Tense
Conjugating the verb "decir" in the present tense is essential for expressing actions of saying or telling that occur currently. "Decir" is an irregular verb in the present tense, which makes its conjugation slightly unique compared to regular verbs.
In the present tense, "decir" is conjugated as follows: "yo digo" (I say/tell), "tú dices" (you say/tell), "él/ella/usted dice" (he/she/you formal says/tells), "nosotros/nosotras decimos" (we say/tell), "vosotros/vosotras decís" (you all say/tell), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes dicen" (they/you all formal say/tell). The irregularity in this verb comes from the stem change in all forms except the "nosotros" and "vosotros" forms, where it remains regular.
Using "decir" in the present tense allows you to communicate what is currently being said or told, such as "yo digo la verdad" (I am telling the truth) or "ellos dicen que vendrán" (they say they will come). This verb is frequently used in everyday conversation, making it essential for sharing information, expressing opinions, and conveying thoughts effectively in Spanish.
| digo | decimos |
| dices | decís |
| dice | dicen> |
Preterite Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Decir in the Preterite Tense
Conjugating the verb "decir" in the preterite tense is important for discussing specific actions of saying or telling that took place and were completed in the past. "Decir" is an irregular verb in the preterite tense, with a unique stem change that distinguishes it from regular verbs.
In the preterite tense, "decir" is conjugated as follows: "yo dije" (I said/told), "tú dijiste" (you said/told), "él/ella/usted dijo" (he/she/you formal said/told), "nosotros/nosotras dijimos" (we said/told), "vosotros/vosotras dijisteis" (you all said/told), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes dijeron" (they/you all formal said/told). The stem changes to "dij-" in all forms, and unlike regular preterite verbs, the third-person plural form does not end in "-ieron" but rather "-eron."
Using "decir" in the preterite tense is perfect for recounting conversations or statements that occurred in the past, such as "yo dije la verdad ayer" (I told the truth yesterday) or "ellos dijeron que vendrían" (they said they would come). This tense is essential for storytelling and for providing specific details about past events or conversations in Spanish.
| dije | dijimos |
| dijiste | dijisteis |
| dijo | dijeron |
Future Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Decir in the Future Tense
Conjugating the verb "decir" in the future tense is essential for expressing actions of saying or telling that will happen in the future. "Decir" is an irregular verb in the future tense, but its conjugation follows a predictable pattern seen in many other irregular verbs.
In the future tense, "decir" is conjugated as follows: "yo diré" (I will say/tell), "tú dirás" (you will say/tell), "él/ella/usted dirá" (he/she/you formal will say/tell), "nosotros/nosotras diremos" (we will say/tell), "vosotros/vosotras diréis" (you all will say/tell), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes dirán" (they/you all formal will say/tell). In the future tense, the stem changes to "dir-" before adding the standard future endings.
Using "decir" in the future tense allows you to express intentions or expectations about what will be said, such as "yo diré lo que pienso mañana" (I will say what I think tomorrow) or "ellos dirán la respuesta en la reunión" (they will say the answer at the meeting). This tense is particularly useful for discussing future plans, predictions, or commitments, adding clarity and structure to your future-oriented communication in Spanish.
| diré | diremos |
| dirás | diréis |
| dirá | dirán |
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Imperfect Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Decir in the Imperfect Tense
Conjugating the verb "decir" in the imperfect tense is useful for describing repeated or ongoing actions of saying or telling in the past, especially when there is no specific endpoint. The imperfect tense is often used for background information or habitual actions.
In the imperfect tense, "decir" is conjugated as follows: "yo decía" (I used to say/tell), "tú decías" (you used to say/tell), "él/ella/usted decía" (he/she/you formal used to say/tell), "nosotros/nosotras decíamos" (we used to say/tell), "vosotros/vosotras decíais" (you all used to say/tell), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes decían" (they/you all formal used to say/tell). This tense is regular for "decir," meaning it follows the standard imperfect endings for -ir verbs.
Using "decir" in the imperfect tense allows you to express past habits, such as "yo decía siempre la verdad" (I always used to tell the truth) or "ellos decían que llegarían temprano" (they used to say they would arrive early). This tense helps provide context and background, which is particularly useful in narratives and descriptions in Spanish.
| decía | decíamos |
| decías | decíais |
| decía | decían |
Conditional Tense
How to Conjugate Spanish verb Decir in the Conditional Tense
Conjugating the verb "decir" in the conditional tense is useful for expressing what someone would say or tell in a hypothetical situation, or for making polite requests. The conditional tense is common in expressing possibilities or intentions under specific conditions.
In the conditional tense, "decir" is conjugated as follows: "yo diría" (I would say/tell), "tú dirías" (you would say/tell), "él/ella/usted diría" (he/she/you formal would say/tell), "nosotros/nosotras diríamos" (we would say/tell), "vosotros/vosotras diríais" (you all would say/tell), and "ellos/ellas/ustedes dirían" (they/you all formal would say/tell). The stem "dec-" changes to "dir-" in the conditional, and then the standard conditional endings are added.
Using "decir" in the conditional tense allows you to express hypothetical statements or polite intentions, such as "yo diría lo que pienso si me preguntas" (I would say what I think if you asked me) or "ellos dirían la verdad si fuera necesario" (they would tell the truth if it were necessary). This tense is particularly helpful for adding nuance, suggesting possibilities, or formulating polite statements in Spanish.
| diría | diríamos |
| dirías | diríais |
| diría | dirían |
Final Thoughts
Mastering the conjugation of "decir" across various tenses—present, preterite, future, imperfect, and conditional—provides a powerful tool for effective communication in Spanish. Each tense allows you to convey "saying" or "telling" in different time frames, contexts, and intentions: whether you’re expressing something currently being said, recounting a past statement, predicting future dialogue, describing habitual expressions, or outlining hypothetical scenarios. By understanding these forms, you enhance your ability to discuss thoughts, relay messages, and articulate ideas accurately in Spanish. Conjugating "decir" properly not only strengthens your grammatical skills but also makes your conversations more fluid, nuanced, and precise, empowering you to interact more confidently in Spanish-speaking environments.
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