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Spanish · Verb · #7 most common

decir

to say
to tell

Irregular-ir ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yodigo
dices
él/elladice
nosotrosdecimos
vosotrosdecís
ellos/ellasdicen

Yo digo la verdad.

I tell the truth.

Ella dice que vendrá mañana.

She says she will come tomorrow.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yodije
dijiste
él/elladijo
nosotrosdijimos
vosotrosdijisteis
ellos/ellasdijeron

Ayer dije que no podía ir.

Yesterday I said that I couldn't go.

Él dijo que estaba cansado.

He said that he was tired.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yodecía
decías
él/elladecía
nosotrosdecíamos
vosotrosdecíais
ellos/ellasdecían

Cuando era niño, siempre decía la verdad.

When I was a child, I always told the truth.

Ella decía que le gustaba el chocolate.

She used to say that she liked chocolate.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yodiré
dirás
él/elladirá
nosotrosdiremos
vosotrosdiréis
ellos/ellasdirán

Mañana diré lo que pienso.

Tomorrow I will say what I think.

Ellos dirán la respuesta más tarde.

They will say the answer later.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yodiría
dirías
él/elladiría
nosotrosdiríamos
vosotrosdiríais
ellos/ellasdirían

Yo diría que es una buena idea.

I would say that it's a good idea.

Ella diría lo mismo si estuviera aquí.

She would say the same if she were here.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yodiga
digas
él/elladiga
nosotrosdigamos
vosotrosdigáis
ellos/ellasdigan

Es importante que tú digas la verdad.

It's important that you tell the truth.

Espero que él diga algo interesante.

I hope that he says something interesting.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yodijera
dijeras
él/elladijera
nosotrosdijéramos
vosotrosdijerais
ellos/ellasdijeran

Si yo dijera la verdad, te sorprenderías.

If I were to tell the truth, you would be surprised.

Ojalá que ella dijera lo que siente.

I wish she would say what she feels.

"decir" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "decir" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"decir" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -ir conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "decir" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "decir" conjugates as: dices, digo, dicen, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "decir" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "decir" conjugates as: dijiste, dije, dijeron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "decir" in Spanish?
"decir" (to say, to tell) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.