dicen
/DEE-sen/
they say
Dicen (they say/tell) refers to a specific group of people communicating.
dicen(Verb)
they say
?Referring to a specific group of people ('ellos' or 'ellas')
,they tell
?Referring to a specific group of people ('ellos' or 'ellas')
you all say
?Polite/formal way to address a group ('ustedes')
,you all tell
?Polite/formal way to address a group ('ustedes')
📝 In Action
Mis amigos dicen que la película es buena.
A1My friends say that the movie is good.
Ellos siempre dicen la verdad.
A2They always tell the truth.
Señores, ¿qué dicen ustedes sobre el plan?
B1Gentlemen, what do you all say about the plan?
💡 Grammar Points
Who is 'they'?
'Dicen' is the form for 'ellos/ellas' (they) and 'ustedes' (you all, formal). You'll know who it is from the conversation. If someone is talking about their parents, 'dicen' means 'they (the parents) say'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Telling a Story
Mistake: "Mis abuelos me dicen historias."
Correction: For telling longer things like stories or jokes, it's more natural to use the verb 'contar'. So, 'Mis abuelos me cuentan historias' (My grandparents tell me stories) sounds better.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reporting Information
Use 'dicen que...' just like you'd use 'they say that...' in English to report what a specific group of people said. For example: 'Los doctores dicen que es importante caminar.'
Dicen (impersonal) is often used to introduce general knowledge or common beliefs, meaning 'people say' or 'it is said'.
dicen(Verb)
they say
?Impersonal; referring to people in general
it is said
?More formal way of expressing a common belief
,people say
?General opinion or rumor
,word is
?Informal, like sharing a rumor
📝 In Action
Dicen que va a llover mañana.
A2They say it's going to rain tomorrow.
En Italia, dicen que no se debe beber capuchino después del mediodía.
B1In Italy, they say you shouldn't drink cappuccino after noon.
Dicen que la risa es la mejor medicina.
B1They say that laughter is the best medicine.
💡 Grammar Points
The Impersonal 'They'
Just like in English, Spanish uses 'dicen' to talk about general knowledge, rumors, or what 'people' say without naming anyone specific. The 'they' isn't a real group of people.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Asking 'Who?'
Mistake: "When hearing 'Dicen que va a llover,' a learner might ask '¿Quiénes lo dicen?' (Who says so?)."
Correction: While you can ask this, usually the point of using 'dicen' this way is that the source is unknown or unimportant. It just means 'this is a common belief'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound Like a Native
Start sentences with 'Dicen que...' to share interesting facts, cultural norms, or a bit of gossip. It's a very natural and common way to start a conversation.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dicen
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'dicen' to talk about a general belief, not a specific group of people?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dicen' and 'se dice'?
They are very similar for talking about general beliefs! Both can mean 'it is said' or 'people say'. 'Dicen' feels a bit more conversational, while 'se dice' can sound slightly more formal or like a statement of fact. For everyday chat, 'dicen' is perfect.
How do I know if 'dicen' means 'they say' or 'you all say'?
It all comes down to context. If you're in a group and someone asks you all a question directly, your answer using 'dicen' will be understood as 'you all say'. If you're talking *about* another group of people (e.g., your coworkers), then 'dicen' means 'they say'. The conversation makes it clear.