dice
/dee-seh/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi mamá dice que la cena está lista.
A1My mom says that dinner is ready.
¿Qué dice el letrero?
A2What does the sign say?
Ella siempre dice la verdad.
B1She always tells the truth.
Usted dice que prefiere el té, ¿verdad?
B1You say you prefer tea, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Who is Speaking?
'Dice' is the form for 'he', 'she', 'it', or the formal 'you' (usted). To say 'I say', you use 'digo'. To say 'you say' (to a friend), you use 'dices'.
'Decir' vs. 'Hablar'
Use 'decir' (like in 'dice') when you are reporting what someone said. Use 'hablar' to talk about the general act of speaking, like 'Ella habla español' (She speaks Spanish).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'dice' and 'dijo'
Mistake: "Using 'dice' for something someone said in the past, for example: 'Ayer, ella dice que...' (Yesterday, she says that...)."
Correction: For a completed action in the past, use 'dijo'. The correct sentence is: 'Ayer, ella dijo que...' (Yesterday, she said that...).
⭐ Usage Tips
Reporting Questions
You can use 'dice' to talk about what something asks, not just what it says. For example, 'La pregunta dice...' means 'The question asks...' or 'The question says...'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dice
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'dice'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dice' and 'dices'?
'Dice' is used for 'he', 'she', 'it', and the formal 'you' (usted). 'Dices' is the informal 'you' (tú) form. You would say '¿Qué dices?' to a friend, but '¿Qué dice usted?' to a stranger or respected elder.
Can 'dice' also mean 'tells'?
Yes, absolutely. The verb 'decir' covers both 'to say' and 'to tell'. 'Ella dice la verdad' means 'She tells the truth.' The right translation depends on the rest of the sentence.