How to Say "you said" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “you said” is “dijiste” — use 'dijiste' when you are speaking to someone informally, like a friend, family member, or someone younger than you (using 'tú')..
dijiste
/dee-HEES-tay//diˈxiste/
Examples
¿Qué dijiste? No te oí.
What did you say? I didn't hear you.
Me dijiste que llegarías a las cinco.
You told me you would arrive at five.
Dijiste una mentira, y por eso estoy enojado.
You told a lie, and that's why I'm angry.
Talking About a Specific Past Action
'Dijiste' is the form of 'decir' (to say/tell) used for a specific, completed action in the past. You use it when talking to one person you know well ('tú') about something they said once. Think of it as the Spanish for 'you said' in sentences like 'Yesterday, you said...'
Adding an 's' at the end
Mistake: “Tú dijistes la verdad.”
Correction: Tú dijiste la verdad. It's a very common habit for native speakers and learners alike to add an extra 's' to this verb form, but the correct version never has it. Just remember: no 's' on 'dijiste'!
'Dijiste' vs. 'Decías'
Mistake: “Cuando éramos niños, me dijiste chistes todos los días.”
Correction: Cuando éramos niños, me decías chistes todos los días. Use 'dijiste' for a one-time event in the past. For repeated actions or habits, like 'you used to tell me jokes', you need the other past tense form, 'decías'.
dijo
/DEE-ho//ˈdixo/
Examples
Ella dijo que no.
She said no.
Mi amigo me dijo un secreto.
My friend told me a secret.
El presidente dijo que la economía mejoraría.
The president said that the economy would improve.
A Specific Moment in the Past
'Dijo' is used for a single, completed action of speaking. Think of it like a snapshot in time: someone said something, and the action is finished.
Who is 'dijo'?
This one word can mean 'he said,' 'she said,' or 'you said' (when you're being formal). You'll always know who's talking from the rest of the sentence or conversation.
From 'decir' (to say)
'Dijo' comes from the verb 'decir'. 'Decir' is highly irregular, meaning its forms don't follow the normal patterns, so it's a good one to memorize!
Saying 'Dijo' vs. 'Decía'
Mistake: “When telling a story, you might say: 'Ella decía hola y se fue.'”
Correction: Instead, say: 'Ella dijo hola y se fue.' (She said hi and left.) Use 'dijo' for quick, one-time actions. Use 'decía' for describing something that was happening over a period of time, like 'She was saying...'
Informal vs. Formal 'You'
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