A Comprehensive Guide to the Conjugation Chart of 'Decir' in Spanish

May 20th, 2023 - Vera

The Spanish verb ‘decir,’ which translates to ‘to say’ or ‘to tell’ in English, is an essential verb for expressing thoughts, opinions, and information. Understanding how to conjugate ‘decir’ correctly across various tenses and moods is crucial for effective communication in Spanish. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the conjugation chart of ‘decir’ in detail, providing a thorough understanding of its usage.

Decir in the Present Tense

The present tense of ‘decir’ follows a regular conjugation pattern for ‘-ir’ verbs. Here is the conjugation chart:

Person Spanish
I say/tell Yo digo
You (informal) say/tell Tú dices
He/She/It says/tells Él/Ella/Usted dice
We say/tell Nosotros/Nosotras decimos
You (plural, informal) say/tell Vosotros/Vosotras decís
They say/tell Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dicen

Decir in the Preterite Tense

In the preterite tense, used to describe past actions that are completed or occurred at a specific time, ‘decir’ has an irregular conjugation. Here is the conjugation chart:

Person Spanish
I said/told Yo dije
You (informal) said/told Tú dijiste
He/She/It said/told Él/Ella/Usted dijo
We said/told Nosotros/Nosotras dijimos
You (plural, informal) said/told Vosotros/Vosotras dijisteis
They said/told Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dijeron

Decir in the Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. In the case of ‘decir,’ it follows a regular conjugation pattern. Here is the conjugation chart:

Person Spanish
I used to say/tell Yo decía
You (informal) used to say/tell Tú decías
He/She/It used to say/tell Él/Ella/Usted decía
We used to say/tell Nosotros/Nosotras decíamos
You (plural, informal) used to say/tell Vosotros/Vosotras decíais
They used to say/tell Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes decían

Decir in the Future Tense

The future tense expresses actions that will occur in the future. ‘Decir’ follows a regular conjugation pattern. Here is the conjugation chart:

Person Spanish
I will say/tell Yo diré
You (informal) will say/tell Tú dirás
He/She/It will say/tell Él/Ella/Usted dirá
We will say/tell Nosotros/Nosotras diremos
You (plural, informal) will say/tell Vosotros/Vosotras diréis
They will say/tell Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dirán

Decir in the Conditional Tense: The conditional tense expresses actions that would occur under certain conditions. ‘Decir’ follows a regular conjugation pattern. Here is the conjugation chart:

Person Spanish
I would say/tell Yo diría
You (informal) would say/tell Tú dirías
He/She/It would say/tell Él/Ella/Usted diría
We would say/tell Nosotros/Nosotras diríamos
You (plural, informal) would say/tell Vosotros/Vosotras diríais
They would say/tell Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dirían

Decir in the Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, or subjective opinions. Here is the conjugation chart for ‘decir’ in the present subjunctive:

Person Spanish
I say/tell Yo diga
You (informal) say/tell Tú digas
He/She/It says/tells Él/Ella/Usted diga
We say/tell Nosotros/Nosotras digamos
You (plural, informal) say/tell Vosotros/Vosotras digáis
They say/tell Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes digan

Common Phrases with Decir

  1. Dime la verdad: Tell me the truth.
  2. Le dije que viniera a la fiesta: I told him/her to come to the party.
  3. ¿Qué estás diciendo?: What are you saying?

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation of ‘decir’ is essential for effective communication in Spanish. By understanding its conjugation across different tenses and moods, you will be able to express your thoughts and convey information accurately. Practice regularly to internalize the conjugations and expand your Spanish language skills. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

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