Inklingo

How to Say "they say" in Spanish

English → Spanish

dicen

DEE-senˈdi.sen

VerbA1/A2General
Use 'dicen' when referring to a specific group of people (like 'my friends' or 'they') or when making a general statement about what people in general are saying.
Three friends standing together, clearly talking and gesturing to each other in a colorful setting, representing a specific group speaking.

Examples

Dicen que va a llover mañana.

They say it's going to rain tomorrow.

Mis amigos dicen que la película es buena.

My friends say that the movie is good.

Ellos siempre dicen la verdad.

They always tell the truth.

Señores, ¿qué dicen ustedes sobre el plan?

Gentlemen, what do you all say about the plan?

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'.

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.

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.

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'.

decirse

deh-SEER-sehdeˈθiɾse

VerbB1General
Use 'se dice' when the 'who' is unimportant or unknown, focusing on the statement itself rather than who is making it, similar to the passive 'it is said'.
A small group of people standing in a circle in a village square, gesturing as if sharing news or rumors.

Examples

Se dice que la nueva película es muy buena.

It is said that the new movie is very good.

Se dice que habrá una fiesta mañana.

It is said that there will be a party tomorrow.

No se dice así, se dice de esta otra forma.

It's not said like that; it's said this other way.

General Statements with 'Se'

When you use 'se dice,' you aren't talking about a specific person. It's like saying 'the word on the street is' or 'people in general say.'

Using the wrong form

Mistake: “Se dicen que...”

Correction: Use 'Se dice que...' (singular) when following with 'that' and a sentence. Only use 'Se dicen' if you are talking about plural objects (e.g., 'Se dicen mentiras').

General vs. Specific 'They'

The most common mistake is using 'se dice' for general statements when 'dicen' is more appropriate. Remember, 'se dice' is for when the source is unknown or irrelevant, while 'dicen' can cover both specific groups and general popular opinion.

Related Translations

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