decías
deh-SEE-ahs
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Qué me decías antes de que sonara el teléfono?
A2What were you saying before the phone rang?
Siempre decías que querías viajar a Italia.
A1You always used to say that you wanted to travel to Italy.
Cuando éramos niños, decías muchas mentiras.
B1When we were children, you would tell many lies.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense's Job
The form 'decías' is used for actions in the past that were ongoing, repeated habits, or descriptions of how things were. Think of it as 'I was doing' or 'I used to do'.
Focus on 'Tú'
This form always pairs with 'tú' (the informal 'you'). If you are speaking formally, you must use 'usted decía'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "Usando 'dijiste' cuando la acción era un hábito. (Using 'dijiste' when the action was a habit.)"
Correction: 'Decías' (imperfect) describes the habit or routine ('You used to say that every day'). 'Dijiste' (preterite) describes a single, completed instance ('You said it yesterday').
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
Use 'decías' when setting the background for a story: 'Era de noche y tú decías que tenías miedo' (It was night and you were saying you were scared).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: decías
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'decías' to describe a repeated past action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'decías' and 'dijiste'?
'Decías' (Imperfect) is used for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive actions in the past (e.g., 'You used to say'). 'Dijiste' (Preterite) is used for a single, completed action in the past (e.g., 'You said it once, yesterday').
Does 'decías' ever mean 'to tell'?
Yes! In Spanish, 'decir' covers both 'to say' and 'to tell.' So, 'Tú decías la verdad' means 'You were telling the truth.'