dicho
/DEE-choh/
said
Depicting the past action of having 'said' or 'told' something.
📝 In Action
Ya te he dicho la verdad.
A2I have already told you the truth.
¿Qué has dicho? No te oí.
A2What have you said? I didn't hear you.
Nos han dicho que la tienda está cerrada.
B1They have told us that the store is closed.
💡 Grammar Points
Partner to 'Haber'
Think of 'dicho' as the key ingredient for talking about the past with 'haber'. It almost always follows a form of this helper verb, like in 'he dicho' (I have said) or 'habíamos dicho' (we had said).
An Irregular Form to Memorize
The verb 'decir' (to say) is irregular. Its past participle isn't 'decido', but this special form: 'dicho'. It's one you'll just have to remember!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Dicho' and 'Dijo'
Mistake: "Yo he dijo la verdad."
Correction: Yo he dicho la verdad. Use 'dijo' to say 'he/she said' in the simple past, but always use 'dicho' with the helper verb 'haber' (he, has, ha...).
⭐ Usage Tips
Ending a Statement with Authority
You might hear people say '¡He dicho!' at the end of a statement to add emphasis, similar to saying 'And that's final!' or 'I've said my piece' in English.
This image represents the noun form of 'dicho,' meaning a traditional 'saying' or proverb.
dicho(Noun)
📝 In Action
Como dice el dicho, 'más vale tarde que nunca'.
B1As the saying goes, 'better late than never'.
Mi abuela siempre tiene un dicho para cada situación.
B1My grandmother always has a saying for every situation.
Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho.
B2There's a big gap between what is said and what is done. (An idiom itself!)
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
When used as a noun meaning 'saying', 'dicho' is always masculine. You'll always say 'el dicho' or 'un dicho'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Introducing Common Wisdom
Use the phrase 'Como dice el dicho...' as an easy way to introduce a proverb or common piece of advice into a conversation.
Illustrating the formal adjective 'dicho,' meaning the 'said' or 'aforementioned' item.
dicho(Adjective)
📝 In Action
Dicho documento debe ser firmado por el gerente.
B2The said document must be signed by the manager.
Una vez aprobada dicha ley, entra en vigor inmediatamente.
C1Once the aforementioned law is approved, it takes effect immediately.
La persona en dicha fotografía es mi abuelo.
B2The person in the photo in question is my grandfather.
💡 Grammar Points
Changes to Match the Noun
As an adjective, 'dicho' must match the gender and number of the thing it describes. You'll see 'dicha ley' for a feminine noun, or 'dichos problemas' for a masculine plural noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
For a Formal Tone
Use this adjective when you want to sound more official or academic. In casual chat, you'd be more likely to say 'ese documento' (that document) instead of 'dicho documento'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dicho
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'dicho' to mean 'a saying' or 'proverb'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dicho' and 'dijo'?
Great question! They both come from 'decir' (to say), but are used differently. 'Dijo' is the simple past tense, meaning 'he/she/you (formal) said' (e.g., 'Él dijo la verdad'). 'Dicho' is the past participle, used with the helper verb 'haber' to mean 'have/has said' (e.g., 'Él ha dicho la verdad').
Can I use 'dicho' as an adjective in normal conversation?
You can, but it will sound quite formal. In a casual chat, instead of 'dicho libro' (the said book), it's much more natural to say 'ese libro' (that book) or 'el libro que mencionaste' (the book you mentioned).