diría
/dee-REE-ah/
I would say
The verb form diría is used to express a personal, hypothetical opinion, translating to 'I would say' or 'he/she would say'.
diría(Verb)
I would say
?Expressing a personal opinion or hypothetical statement
he/she would say
?Referring to what someone else would hypothetically say
,you would say
?Formal 'you' (usted)
📝 In Action
Yo diría que el azul es el mejor color.
B1I would say that blue is the best color.
¿Qué diría tu mamá si supiera esto?
B2What would your mom say if she knew this?
Él nunca diría algo así, es muy amable.
B1He would never say something like that, he's very kind.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Would' Verb Form
This special verb form is often called the conditional. It’s perfect for talking about what 'would' happen in an imaginary or hypothetical situation. 'Diría' means 'I would say' or 'he/she would say'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
For 'I Said' vs. 'I Would Say'
Mistake: "Using 'diría' for something you actually said in the past, like 'Yo diría la verdad'."
Correction: For a past action, use 'dije': 'Yo dije la verdad' (I said the truth). Save 'diría' for hypotheticals: 'Yo diría la verdad si me preguntaran' (I would say the truth if they asked me).
⭐ Usage Tips
Soften Your Opinion
Starting a sentence with 'Yo diría que...' is a great way to share your opinion without sounding too strong. It’s like saying 'In my opinion...' or 'I feel like...' in English.
Diría is also used to express a supposition or logical guess about a situation, similar to 'I'd say' or 'I assume'.
diría(Verb)
I'd say
?Making a polite suggestion or expressing a supposition
I wonder
?Expressing conjecture about a past event
,one might think
?Expressing a general assumption
📝 In Action
Diría que es mejor que llames antes de ir.
B2I'd say it's better if you call before going.
Llegó muy contento. Diría que le dieron el trabajo.
B2He arrived very happy. I'd say they gave him the job.
¿Quién diría que un equipo tan pequeño ganaría el campeonato?
C1Who would have thought that such a small team would win the championship?
💡 Grammar Points
Guessing About Things
You can use 'diría' to make a logical guess about something. If you see someone smiling, you can think, 'Diría que recibió buenas noticias' (I'd say he got good news).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Diplomatic
When giving advice, using 'diría que...' instead of a direct command (like '¡Llama antes!') sounds much softer and more polite. It turns an order into a helpful suggestion.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: diría
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'diría' to express a hypothetical opinion?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dije', 'decía', and 'diría'?
Great question! It's all about time and certainty. 'Dije' is for a single, completed action in the past ('I said'). 'Decía' is for a repeated or ongoing action in the past ('I used to say' or 'I was saying'). 'Diría' is for a hypothetical situation in the present or future ('I would say').
Can 'diría' also mean 'he/she would say'?
Yes, absolutely! The form 'diría' works for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (you, formal). You can usually tell who the speaker means from the context of the conversation. For example, '¿Qué diría Juan?' means 'What would Juan say?'