decía
/deh-SEE-ah/
was saying / was telling
This image illustrates 'decía' when referring to an action that was ongoing or habitual in the past, such as 'was saying' or 'used to tell'.
decía(Verb)
was saying / was telling
?Describing an action in progress in the past.
,used to say / used to tell
?Talking about a habitual action or routine in the past.
,said
?Used in storytelling to set the scene or provide background information.
📝 In Action
Mi abuela siempre decía que hay que ser amable.
A2My grandmother always used to say that you have to be kind.
No recuerdo qué me decía el profesor en ese momento.
B1I don't remember what the teacher was saying to me at that moment.
Llovía mucho y la radio decía que las calles estaban inundadas.
B1It was raining a lot and the radio was saying that the streets were flooded.
💡 Grammar Points
A Verb Form for Storytelling
'Decía' is a form of the verb 'decir' (to say/tell). This specific ending ('-ía') is used for a past tense that describes ongoing actions, habits, or background details. Think of it as painting a picture of the past rather than just stating a fact.
Who is 'decía'?
This one form can mean 'I was saying' OR 'he/she/you (formal) were saying'. You figure out who is talking from the rest of the sentence. For example, 'Yo siempre decía...' means 'I always used to say...'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'decía' vs. 'dijo'
Mistake: "Using 'decía' for a single, completed action. For example: 'Ayer, mi amigo me decía un secreto.'"
Correction: Use 'dijo' for actions that happened once and were completed. The correct way is: 'Ayer, mi amigo me dijo un secreto' (Yesterday, my friend told me a secret). Use 'decía' for background: 'Mi amigo me decía un secreto cuando su mamá entró' (My friend was telling me a secret when his mom walked in).
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
Use 'decía' to give background information in a story. For example: 'Era una noche oscura. La radio decía que se acercaba una tormenta.' (It was a dark night. The radio was saying a storm was approaching.)
When used figuratively, 'decía' can mean 'indicated' or 'meant,' as when a sign or gesture communicates a message.
decía(Verb)
meant
?Expressing what something signified or implied.
,indicated
?Referring to what a sign or signal showed.
read
?Describing the text on a sign or document, e.g., 'The sign read...'
📝 In Action
Su expresión no decía nada, pero yo sabía que estaba enojado.
B1His expression said nothing (meant nothing), but I knew he was angry.
El letrero decía 'prohibido el paso'.
A2The sign said 'no trespassing'.
Para mí, ese gesto decía mucho sobre su carácter.
B2To me, that gesture said a lot about his character.
⭐ Usage Tips
When Things 'Speak'
In Spanish, just like in English, we can talk about objects or situations 'saying' something. You can use 'decía' when a sign, a look on someone's face, or a situation was communicating a message.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: decía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'decía' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest difference between 'decía' and 'dijo'?
Think of it like this: 'decía' is for the background story, and 'dijo' is for the main event. Use 'decía' for things that were happening, used to happen, or for descriptions ('The sun was shining and my mom was saying...'). Use 'dijo' for a specific action that started and finished ('...when suddenly my dad said, 'Let's go!'').
How do I know if 'decía' means 'I was saying' or 'he/she was saying'?
Usually, the context tells you! If you're talking about yourself, it means 'I'. If you were just talking about your friend Ana, it means 'she'. To be extra clear, you can add the person: 'yo decía' (I was saying) or 'él/ella decía' (he/she was saying).