di
/dee/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Di tu nombre, por favor.
A1Say your name, please.
¡Di la verdad ahora mismo!
A2Tell the truth right now!
Si no te gusta, di algo.
B1If you don't like it, say something.
💡 Grammar Points
Giving Friendly Commands
To tell a friend ('tú') to do something, you often use a special short verb form. 'Di' is the command 'say' or 'tell' from the verb 'decir'. It's one of a handful of very common short commands you'll just need to memorize.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Dice' Instead of 'Di'
Mistake: "Tú dice la verdad."
Correction: Use '¡Di la verdad!'. When giving a direct command to a friend ('tú'), you need the special command form 'di', not the regular form 'dices'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Attaching Little Words
You can attach words like 'me' (to me) or 'lo' (it) directly to the end of 'di'. For example, 'dime' means 'tell me' and 'dilo' means 'say it'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: di
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'di' to mean 'I gave'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'di' have two completely different meanings?
It's a coincidence of language evolution! 'Di' as 'say!' comes from the verb 'decir', and 'di' as 'I gave' comes from the verb 'dar'. Over hundreds of years, these two specific forms just happened to become identical. You always figure out the meaning from the rest of the sentence.
Is 'di' formal or informal?
It depends on the meaning. The command 'di' (say/tell) is always informal, used with friends or family ('tú'). The past tense 'di' (I gave) is neutral; it can be used in any situation, formal or informal, because it's just talking about what 'I' did.