How to Say "to say" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to say” is “decir” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi mamá siempre dice la verdad.
My mom always tells the truth.
¿Qué dijiste? No te oí.
What did you say? I didn't hear you.
Por favor, dime tu nombre.
Please, tell me your name.
Telling vs. Speaking ('Decir' vs. 'Hablar')
'Decir' focuses on what is said (the message), while 'hablar' focuses on the action of speaking itself. 'Digo la verdad' (I tell the truth), but 'Hablo español' (I speak Spanish).
Who are you telling? ('Objetos Indirectos')
When you tell something to someone, you use little words like 'me', 'te', 'le' before 'decir'. For example, 'Te digo un secreto' means 'I'm telling you a secret'.
Confusing 'decir' and 'contar'
Mistake: “Voy a decirte una historia.”
Correction: Voy a contarte una historia. Use 'contar' for telling stories, jokes, or recounting events. Use 'decir' for specific information or quotes.
Irregular 'yo' form
Mistake: “Yo deco la verdad.”
Correction: Yo digo la verdad. The 'yo' form in the present is very irregular. Remember: 'digo'!
Related Translations
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