decían
“decían” means “they were saying” in Spanish (ongoing past action).
they were saying, you were saying
Also: they used to say, they kept saying
📝 In Action
Todos decían que iba a llover, pero salió el sol.
A2Everyone was saying it was going to rain, but the sun came out.
Mis abuelos decían que antes la vida era más simple.
B1My grandparents used to say that life was simpler before.
¿Qué decían ustedes en la reunión de ayer?
A2What were you all (formal) saying at yesterday's meeting?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: decían
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'decían' to describe a repeated action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'decir' comes directly from the Latin verb *dīcere*, meaning 'to say' or 'to tell.' This root is incredibly old and has remained largely unchanged in meaning for thousands of years.
First recorded: Old Spanish (around the 10th-12th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'decían' refers to 'they' or 'you (plural, formal)'?
You have to look at the context. If the sentence mentions 'Mis padres' or 'Los estudiantes,' it's 'they.' If the speaker is addressing a group of people directly using the formal 'ustedes,' then it means 'you (all).'
Why is the imperfect form 'decían' relatively regular, but the Preterite 'dijeron' is so irregular?
The Imperfect tense is known for being very consistent across almost all Spanish verbs. 'Decir' is only slightly irregular in the imperfect (it uses the root 'dec-' instead of 'dic-' found elsewhere), but it follows the standard '-ían' ending perfectly. The Preterite tense, however, is a common place for verbs like 'decir' to have strong, unpredictable changes.