decir
Lemma Details
Translation: to say; to tell; to speak; to express; to state; to utter
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Decir comes from Latin 'dicere' meaning 'to say, tell, speak'. This Latin root is found in many English words like 'dictate', 'dictionary', 'predict', 'verdict', and 'indicate'. The connection between 'decir' and these English words helps illustrate how both languages share this ancient root for expressing the concept of verbal communication.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'decir' as 'declare' in English - both involve speaking or stating something.
- The past form 'dijo' (he/she said) sounds a bit like 'ditto' which is something you say when repeating what someone else said.
- Connect 'decir' with 'dictate' - both involve expressing words.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Decir is one of the most essential verbs in Spanish, used constantly in everyday communication. It's also highly irregular, making it one of the first irregular verbs Spanish learners must master. The phrase 'es decir' (that is to say) is particularly common in Spanish discourse to clarify or rephrase statements.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'decir' means 'to say/tell', 'decidir' means 'to decide'. They look similar but have different meanings and conjugations.
Confused word:
Necesito decidir qué hacer.
I need to decide what to do.
Notes: The past participles are also different: 'dicho' for decir and 'decidido' for decidir.
Mnemonic: 'Decidir' has an extra 'di' syllable compared to 'decir' - think of this extra syllable as the extra thought needed to make a decision rather than just saying something.
Explanation: 'Decir' means 'to say/tell' while 'deducir' means 'to deduce/infer'. They have similar sounds but different meanings and conjugation patterns.
Confused word:
Puedo deducir la respuesta.
I can deduce the answer.
Notes: Both are irregular verbs but follow different patterns in their conjugations.
Mnemonic: 'Deducir' contains 'deduce' within it, making it easier to remember its meaning.