The Spanish Verb Decir: How to Use "To Say" and "To Tell" in Spanish

Learning how to use the Spanish verb decir (to say, to tell) is essential for everyday conversations. This common verb helps you express opinions, share information, and report what others have said. In this lesson, we'll explore the most useful forms of decir and show you how to use them correctly in various situations through real examples from native speakers.

to say tell spanish decir

Common Forms of the Spanish Verb Decir

One of the most commonly used forms of the verb decir is digo (I say):

Pero si yo digo: Yo voy en el autobús y usted va en el coche,

But if I say: I am going in the bus and you [formal] are going in the car,

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The verb decir is frequently followed by the word que (that):

Siempre digo que tiene una energía especial,

I always say that it has a special energy

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Also remember that in Spanish you don't always need to use personal pronouns before verbs, since these are conjugated differently for each person:

Digo lo que veo.

I say what I see.

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Using "Dice" in Spanish Conversations

Another common form of the verb decir is dice (he/she/it says). The reason why dice is very useful is because it helps us talk about what we read or hear. For example:

Hay un letrero en la puerta que dice que ya está cerrado | There's a sign on the door saying it's closed already.

El mensaje dice que viene una gran tormenta | The message says a big storm is coming.

Mayra dice que te tienes que ir | Mayra says you have to go.

We mentioned before that it's very common to omit personal pronouns before verbs in Spanish. But you will find that the verb decir is frequently preceded by reflexive, direct, or indirect object pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, le, les, la, las, lo) depending on what is being said and to whom. For example:

¿Quién nos dice que la vida nos dará el tiempo necesario?

Who says [to us] life will give us the necessary time?

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Supongamos que un amigo me dice lo siguiente:

Let's imagine that a friend tells me the following:

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Combining Pronouns with Decir

It's also important to remember how pronouns are combined when using this verb. You must place reflexive or indirect object pronouns first, and then direct object pronouns right next to the verb. In the following example te replaces an indirect object (you) and lo (it) replaces a direct object:

te lo digo de corazón

I tell you from the heart.

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Past Tense and Common Expressions with Decir

The past tense dijo (he/she/it said) is another useful form of this verb. For example, you can use it to talk about what someone told you in the past. The expression me lo dijo (he/she/it told it to me) is worth learning:

¡Es verdad, pana, mi hermano me lo dijo!

It's true, pal, my brother told it to me!

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No le digas (don't tell him/her) and no me digas (don't tell me) are also useful:

¡No le digas, Candelario!

Don't tell him, Candelario!

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Another fixed expression is se dice (it's said, one says), which is equivalent to dice la gente (people say):

y se dice que sus flores anuncian la llegada de buenas noticias.

and it is said that its flowers announce the arrival of good news.

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The same phrase, se dice, can also be used to talk about the correct pronunciation of a word, or its meaning in a different language. For example:

Buenos días se dice "bonjour" en Francés | "Bonjour" is good morning in French.
No se dice "soy contento", se dice "estoy contento" | You don't say "soy contento," you say "estoy contento" (I'm happy).

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Master the Spanish Verb Decir with Real Examples

The Spanish verb decir is one of the most important verbs to learn because it helps you express yourself and understand others in everyday conversations. By practicing the different forms we've covered (digo, dice, dijo, no digas, se dice), you'll be able to use this verb confidently in various contexts.

You can find many more examples of the verb decir in our catalog. Just type the form of the verb that you want to practice in the search tool to start learning real Spanish from real speakers in real situations!

We hope this lesson has helped you understand how to use the Spanish verb decir effectively. Have you tried using any of these expressions in your conversations? We'd love to hear about your experience with this versatile verb! Remember that mastering decir is a big step toward fluency in Spanish. If you have any thoughts or experiences to share, we're eager to hear from you. ¡Hasta la próxima, and don't forget to send us your questions and suggestions!