Tired of stumbling over the Spanish verb “decir”? You're not alone! This seemingly simple word can be quite the puzzle for you, as a learner. We're here to unravel its mysteries and transform you into a “decir” master.
From the basics of conjugation to the nuances of indirect object pronouns, we'll cover everything you need to know. By the end of this blog, you'll be confidently expressing yourself in Spanish with this tricky verb. So, let's go in and discover the magic of “decir”!
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Let's start with the foundation. “Decir” means “to say” or “to tell” in English. It's an irregular verb, especially in certain tenses, making it a bit challenging to master.
Present Tense: Saying It Now
The present tense of “decir” is where many learners begin to encounter challenges. Here's a breakdown:
Yo digo - I say/tell
Tú dices - You say/tell
Él/Ella/Usted dice - He/She/You (formal) says/tells
Nosotros decimos - We say/tell
Vosotros decís - You (informal, plural) say/tell
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dicen - They/You (plural, formal) say/tell
A common phrase to practice with is “Te digo la verdad” (I'm telling you the truth).
The Indirect Object Pronoun Twist
One common mistake English speakers make is forgetting the indirect object pronoun with “decir”. In English, we might say “I told him,” but in Spanish, you need to specify to whom you're telling: “Le dije”.
Indirect object pronouns: me, te, le, nos, os, les
He told me a story. - Él me contó una historia.
I told them the truth. - Les dije la verdad.
Take a look of the Past Tense
The past tense, or preterite, of “decir” is where things get a bit trickier due to its irregular forms.
Yo dije - I said/told
Tú dijiste - You said/told
Él/Ella/Usted dijo - He/She/You (formal) said/told
Nosotros dijimos - We said/told
Vosotros dijisteis - You (informal, plural) said/told
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dijeron - They/You (plural, formal) said/told
She told us a secret. - Ella nos dijo un secreto.
Future Tense: Saying What's to Come
Fortunately, the future tense of “decir” follows a more regular pattern.
Yo diré - I will say/tell
Tú dirás - You will say/tell
Él/Ella/Usted dirá - He/She/You (formal) will say/tell
Nosotros diremos - We will say/tell
Vosotros diréis - You (informal, plural) will say/tell
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dirán - They/You (plural, formal) will say/tell
I will tell you later. - Te lo diré más tarde.
The word “decir” translates to “to say” or “to tell” and it is important to pay close attention to indirect object pronouns in order to indicate the person you are speaking to.
In the following dialogue, you'll see how “decir” is used in various contexts, incorporating the appropriate object pronouns. This will help you understand how to apply these concepts in real-life conversations.
María: Hola Juan, ¿qué te dijo el profesor sobre el examen?
(Hi Juan, what did the teacher tell you about the exam?)
Juan: Me dijo que será la próxima semana. Te lo iba a decir, pero se me olvidó.
(He told me it will be next week. I was going to tell you, but I forgot.)
María: ¡No te preocupes! Ahora que me lo dices, puedo empezar a estudiar.
(Don't worry! Now that you're telling me, I can start studying.)
Juan: Sí, y el profesor también dijo que nos dirá los temas mañana.
(Yes, and the teacher also said that he'll tell us the topics tomorrow.)
Fast QUIZer
Translate the following sentences into Spanish, paying close attention to the correct use of indirect object pronouns.
She told me a secret.
They told us the truth.
I told him the news.
Relate the following key events in a timeline and put the object pronoun
Ayer, mi amigo __________ (a mi) contó sobre una gran película.
Mañana, yo________ (al profesor) diré sobre mi tarea.
Siempre ellos ________ (a sus padres) dicen la verdad.
__________(past)____________(present)______________(future)_________
Fill in the blanks in the dialogue below using the appropriate form of “decir” (present, past, or future tense).
María: Hola Juan, ¿qué te ______ (to say) el profesor sobre el examen?
Juan: Me ______ (to tell) que será la próxima semana. Te lo ______ (to tell), pero se me olvidó.
María: ¡No te preocupes! Ahora que me lo ______ (to tell), puedo empezar a estudiar.
Juan: Sí, y el profesor también ______ (to say) que nos dirá los temas mañana.
And there you have it! You're well on your way to know “decir” backwards in Spanish conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment with different sentence structures and contexts. If you want to learn more, hit that subscribe button and check out our other videos on Mexican culture and language.
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