dijo
“dijo” means “he said” in Spanish.
he said, she said, it said, you said
Also: he told, she told
📝 In Action
Ella dijo que no.
A1She said no.
Mi amigo me dijo un secreto.
A2My friend told me a secret.
El presidente dijo que la economía mejoraría.
B1The president said that the economy would improve.
¿Qué fue lo que usted dijo?
A2What was it that you (formal) said?
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dijo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'dijo' correctly for a single, completed action in the past?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
It comes from the Latin word 'dīxit', which literally means 'he/she/it said'. This was a form of the verb 'dīcere', meaning 'to say' or 'to speak', which is also the ancestor of the modern Spanish verb 'decir'.
First recorded: 10th century (as 'dixo')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dijo' and 'decía'?
Think of it like a photo vs. a video. 'Dijo' is a photo—it captures a single, completed action ('He said one thing'). 'Decía' is a video—it describes an ongoing or repeated action in the past ('He was saying...' or 'He used to say...').
How do I know if 'dijo' means 'he said', 'she said', or 'you said'?
You'll know from the context! If you were just talking about María, then 'dijo' means 'she said'. If you were talking about Juan, it means 'he said'. The surrounding sentences will make it clear.
Is 'dijo' the same as 'habló'?
Not quite. 'Habló' means 'he/she spoke' and refers to the general act of speaking ('She spoke for an hour'). 'Dijo' means 'he/she said' and is used to report the specific content of what was spoken ('She said hello').