decían
deh-SEE-ahn
Quick Reference
📝 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?
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense (Ongoing Past)
This form describes actions that were happening continuously in the past ('they were saying') or actions that happened repeatedly ('they used to say'). It sets the scene for a story.
Focus on the 'They' Form
'Decían' is used for 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine), and 'ustedes' (you, plural formal). The context tells you which group is speaking.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Using 'dijeron' instead of 'decían' when talking about a habit."
Correction: Use 'decían' for habits ('They used to say that every day'). Use 'dijeron' only for a single, completed action ('They said it once').
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Root
Even though the verb 'decir' is irregular in many tenses (like the Present 'digo'), the Imperfect tense ('decía, decías, decían') is very predictable and follows the standard pattern for 'ir' verbs, making it easier to remember.
🔄 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
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.