dije
“dije” means “I said” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I said, I told
📝 In Action
Yo dije la verdad.
A2I told the truth.
Te dije que iba a llover.
B1I told you it was going to rain.
¿Qué dije? No me acuerdo.
A2What did I say? I don't remember.
pendant
Also: locket, charm
📝 In Action
Compró un dije de plata para su collar.
B2She bought a silver pendant for her necklace.
El dije tenía una foto pequeña adentro.
C1The locket had a small photo inside.
Lleva un dije en forma de corazón.
B2He/She is wearing a heart-shaped pendant.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dije
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'dije' correctly as the verb 'I said'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'dije' has two separate origins. As a verb ('I said'), it comes from the Latin 'dīxī', the past tense of 'dīcere' (to say). As a noun ('pendant'), its origin is less certain but may come from an old Spanish word for a trinket or toy.
First recorded: 12th century (verb form)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'dije' used for 'I said' but 'dijo' is for 'he/she said'?
Because 'decir' (to say) is an irregular verb. In the simple past tense (called the preterite), many common verbs have unique spellings that you just have to memorize. 'Dije' is for 'yo' (I), and 'dijo' is for 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/you formal).
Is the noun 'dije' (pendant) related to the verb 'decir' (to say)?
No, they are completely unrelated! It's a coincidence that they are spelled the same. The verb comes from Latin for 'to say,' while the noun for the jewelry has a different, separate origin. They are two different words that happen to look and sound alike.