Decir Conjugation in Spanish

Overview

“Decir” is the Spanish verb that translates to “to say” or “to tell.” It’s commonly used in phrases like “What did you say?” or “I swear to tell the truth.” When answering the phone in Spain, you might hear “¿Diga?” (meaning “hello”) or “¡Dígame!” (literally “tell me”). This verb is also employed to convey rumors and opinions, such as “they say it’s going to rain all next week” or “What do you say, should we go on holidays in June?”

Verbs similar to “decir” include: articular (to articulate), comentar (to comment), expresar (to express), and mentionar (to mention).

Present Tense of Decir

The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or habitual actions.

Usage Examples:

• Yo digo la verdad siempre.
• Tú dices que vendrás mañana.
• Ellos dicen que la película es buena.

Preterite Tense of Decir

The preterite tense is used for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.

Usage Examples:

• Yo dije que no iba a ir.
• Ella dijo la verdad en el juicio.
• Nosotros dijimos que llegaríamos a las seis.

Imperfect Tense of Decir

The imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past.

Usage Examples:

• Yo decía eso cuando era niño.
• Tú decías la verdad siempre.
• Ellos decían que iban a venir.

Future Tense of Decir

The future tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future.

Usage Examples:

• Yo diré la verdad pase lo que pase.
• Tú dirás lo que piensas en la reunión.
• Ellos dirán su opinión más tarde.

Present Tense Conjugation of “Decir”

The Present Tense of “decir” is used to talk about actions, situations, events, or thoughts that are occurring now or in the near future. It’s also applicable when expressing facts and truths. For example, “digo hola al profesor,” means “I say hello to the teacher.”

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Presente.”

Examples:

1. Yo digo la verdad siempre.
2. Tú dices que no puedes venir.
3. Ellos dicen que llegarán tarde.

Decir in the Simple Past

The Simple Past (Preterite) of “decir” is employed to describe actions that have been fully completed at a defined moment in the past. For instance, “dije hola al profesor” translates to “I said hello to the teacher.”

In Spanish, the Simple Past is referred to as “El Pretérito Indefinido”.

Examples:

• Yo dije la verdad en la corte.
• Tú dijiste que vendrías a la fiesta.
• Ellas dijeron que no podían asistir.

Conjugation of “Decir” in the Imperfect Tense

The Imperfect Tense in Spanish, or “El Pretérito Imperfecto,” is employed to express past habitual actions or to describe past events with no specific endpoint. For example, one might say “decía hola al profesor,” which translates to “I used to say hello to the teacher.”

Examples in Spanish:

1. Yo decía que siempre seríamos amigos.
2. Tú decías la verdad al maestro cada día.
3. Mis abuelos siempre decían historias interesantes en la cena.

Decir in the Present Progressive Tense

The Present Progressive tense of “decir” is utilized to describe an action that is happening continuously or at this very moment. For instance, “estoy diciendo hola al profesor,” which means “I am saying hello to the teacher.”

In Spanish, the Present Progressive is referred to as “El Presente Progresivo.”

Examples:

• Estoy diciendo que voy a llegar tarde.
• ¡Estás diciendo la verdad!
• El profesor está diciendo algo importante.

”Decir” in the Indicative Near Future

The Indicative Near Future tense of “decir” is used to discuss events that are expected to happen soon, often highlighting plans or intentions in the near future. For example, “voy a decir hola al profesor” means “I am going to say hello to the teacher.”

In Spanish, the Indicative Near Future is known as “El Futuro Próximo”.

Examples:

1. Yo voy a decir la verdad.
2. Tú vas a decir algo importante.
3. Nosotros vamos a decir nuestras opiniones.

Decir in the Future Tense

The Future tense of “decir” is used for discussing actions that will take place at a later time. For instance, “diré la verdad”, meaning “I will tell the truth”.

In Spanish, the Future tense is referred to as “El Futuro Simple”.

Examples:

1. Mañana diré lo que pienso.
2. Tú dirás que no es cierto.
3. Ellos dirán la fecha del examen.

Decir in the Indicative Conditional

The Indicative Conditional of “decir” is utilized to describe actions that might occur in the future, or to express hypotheses and probabilities. For instance, “diría hola al profesor” means “I would say hello to the teacher.”

In Spanish, this conjugation is termed “El Condicional Simple.”

Examples:

• Yo diría que es mejor ir mañana.
• ¿Tú dirías la verdad en esa situación?
• Ellos dirían que todo estará bien.

Decir in the Indicative Present Perfect

The Indicative Present Perfect of “decir” is used to describe actions that began recently and continue to the present or actions that were completed recently. For example, “he dicho hola al profesor”, meaning “I have said hello to the teacher”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as “El Pretérito Perfecto”.

Conjugation Table for Decir in the Indicative Present Perfect

Examples:

1. Yo he dicho la verdad en esta situación.
2. Tú has dicho que vienes a la fiesta.
3. Ellos han dicho que no pueden asistir mañana.

Decir in the Past Perfect Tense

The Past Perfect Tense of “decir” is employed to describe actions that were completed before another occurrence in the past. For instance, “había dicho hola al profesor” translates to “I had said hello to the teacher.”

In Spanish, the Past Perfect Tense is called “El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto.”

Examples:

1. Cuando llegué, ya habían dicho la verdad.
2. Habíamos dicho que nos encontraríamos en el parque.
3. ¿Habías dicho a tus amigos sobre la fiesta?

Decir in the Future Perfect Tense

The Future Perfect tense of “decir” is used to express an action that will have been completed at some point in the future. For instance, “habré dicho hola al profesor” translates to “I will have said hello to the teacher” in English.

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Futuro Perfecto”.

Examples:

1. Para cuando llegues, yo ya habré dicho la verdad.
2. Mañana a esta hora, ellos habrán dicho todo lo que saben.
3. Si estudias, habrás dicho todos los verbos correctamente en el examen.

Conditional Perfect in the Indicative for ‘Decir’

In the Indicative Conditional Perfect tense, ‘decir’ is utilized to describe an action that would have occurred in the past if a certain condition was met. For example, “habría dicho la verdad”, meaning “I would have told the truth”.

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Condicional Perfecto”.

Examples:

1. Si hubiera sabido la respuesta, habría dicho algo.
2. Ellos habrían dicho la verdad si hubieras preguntado.
3. Nos habríamos dicho adiós si supiéramos que te mudabas.

Subjunctive Tenses of ‘Decir’

Decir in the Subjunctive Present

The Subjunctive Present is used to discuss scenarios that involve uncertainty, emotions, wishes, desires, and hopes. It contrasts with the indicative mood because the described events may not be certain. For instance, “diga” means “I say” in this mood.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is referred to as “El Presente de Subjuntivo”.

Examples:

1. Es posible que yo diga la verdad.
2. No creo que tú digas eso sinceramente.
3. Espero que ellos digan sus opiniones libremente.

The Subjunctive Imperfect

The Subjunctive Imperfect is employed to express hypothetical or uncertain events in the past or to present opinions laden with emotional undertones about past occurrences. An example is “dijera,” translating to “I said.”

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is called “El Imperfecto Subjuntivo.”

Examples:

1. Si yo dijera la verdad, nadie me creería.
2. Ella quería que tú le dijeras lo que había pasado.
3. Esperaba que ellos dijeran algo al respecto.

”Decir” in the Hypothetical Future Subjunctive Tense

The Hypothetical Future Subjunctive is employed to describe situations or events that might occur in the future, often with a certain degree of uncertainty. For example, “dijere” translates to “I will say.”

In Spanish, it is referred to as “El Futuro de Subjuntivo.”

Examples:

1. Si él dijere la verdad, todos lo apoyarían.
2. Cuando tú dijeres tus planes, entenderemos mejor tu visión.
3. Si nosotros dijéremos todo lo que sabemos, cambiaríamos la opinión pública.

Saying in the Subjunctive Present Perfect

The Subjunctive Present Perfect is utilized to describe past actions or events that are still relevant to the present or to discuss an action that will have occurred by a particular future time. For instance, “haya dicho” translates to “I have said.”

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as “El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo.”

Examples:

1. Es posible que haya dicho la verdad.
2. Dudo que hayáis dicho todo lo que sabéis.
3. Me alegra que hayan dicho lo que piensan.

Subjunctive Past Perfect for “Decir”

The Subjunctive Past Perfect tense is used to discuss hypothetical scenarios and actions or events that happened before another past action/event. For instance, “hubiera dicho” translates to “I had said.”

In Spanish, this tense is called “El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo.”

Examples:

• Si hubiera dicho la verdad, no estaríamos en este problema. (If I had said the truth, we wouldn’t be in this problem.)
• Él me dijo que hubieras dicho algo importante en la reunión. (He told me that you had said something important in the meeting.)
• Ellos hubieran dicho adiós, pero no tuvieron tiempo. (They had said goodbye, but they didn’t have time.)

Subjunctive Future Perfect for ‘Decir’

The Subjunctive Future Perfect is utilized to describe an event that will have taken place if a certain hypothetical condition is met in the future. For instance, “hubiere dicho” translates to “I will have said.”

In Spanish, this tense is referred to as “El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo.”

Example Sentences in Spanish:

• Para cuando llegues a casa, hubiere dicho todo lo que necesitaba.
• Si tienes éxito, habremos hubiereis dicho que eres increíble.
• Esperamos que para entonces él hubiere dicho la verdad.

Imperative Forms of ‘Decir’

Command Form in Positive: Decir

The Imperative Affirmative mood is utilized to issue commands or direct instructions, essentially telling someone to take action. For instance, “diga” translates to “say!” in a formal context.

In Spanish, this is referred to as “El Imperativo Afirmativo.”

Examples:

1. Tú: ¡Di la verdad! (Tell the truth!)
2. Usted: Por favor, diga su nombre. (Please, say your name.)
3. Nosotros: Digamos algo interesante. (Let’s say something interesting.)

The Negative Imperative Form of “Decir”

The Negative Imperative in Spanish is used to instruct or command someone not to do something. For example, “no diga” translates to the formal “don’t say!” in English.

In Spanish, this grammatical mood is referred to as “El Imperativo Negativo”.

Examples:

• No digas mentiras. (Don’t tell lies.)
• No diga cosas malas. (Don’t say bad things.)
• No digamos más al respecto. (Let’s not say more about it.)