decir
M028 IrregularDecir — highly irregular (to say / tell)
Highly irregular
5
verbs
Difficulty
Summary
DECIR is a central irregular model with several moving pieces:
- Present yo and stressed forms: digo, dices, dice, dicen.
- Preterite: dije, dijo, dijeron.
- Future/conditional (bare verb): diré, diría.
- Present subjunctive: diga.
- Participle: dicho.
Technical explanation
Professor note (Spain):
- Model for many -decir compounds (bendecir, contradecir, desdecir, maldecir...).
- Present indicative:
yo in -go (digo) and e->i in stressed forms (dices, dice, dicen), while nosotros/vosotros keep e (decimos, decís).
- Present subjunctive:
dig- base (diga, digamos, digan), also in compounds (contradiga...).
- Preterite and derived simple subjunctive:
dij- base with -eron in 3rd plural (dije, dijeron; dijera, dijere), and compounds (contradije, contradijeron).
- Future and conditional:
bare decir uses dir- (diré, diría); derived -decir verbs use regular forms in this app (contradeciré, bendeciría).
- Imperative:
bare tú di; derived verbs use tú in -dice (bendice, contradice). Vosotros keeps -decid.
- Participles:
decir -> dicho; compounds often follow -dicho (contradicho, desdicho), while bendecir/maldecir commonly use bendecido/maldecido in compound tenses.
Examples
- Yo digo la verdad y ellos dicen lo mismo.
- Ayer contradijeron al portavoz.
- Espero que bendigas esta casa.
Verbs following decir
Frequent compounds in this model:
Teacher guide (Spain)
Teach by sequence: digo -> dije -> diré -> diga -> dicho.
1) Core compounds
Best first set for contrastive drills.
2) Teaching recommendation
Pair present and preterite constantly: digo/dices vs dije/dijeron.
Present Indicative
yo
digo
tú
dices
él/ella
dice
Pattern cheat sheet
Most-used tenses for this model, with an optional comparison against the regular pattern.
Indicativo — Indicative
Presente
Present Indicative
yo
digo
tú
dices
él/ella
dice
Pretérito perfecto simple
Preterite Indicative
yo
dije
tú
dijiste
él/ella
dijo
Pretérito imperfecto
Imperfect Indicative
yo
decía
tú
decías
él/ella
decía
Futuro simple
Future Indicative
yo
diré
tú
dirás
él/ella
dirá
Condicional simple
Conditional
yo
diría
tú
dirías
él/ella
diría
Subjuntivo — Subjunctive
Presente de subjuntivo
Present Subjunctive
yo
diga
tú
digas
él/ella
diga
Imperativo — Imperative
Imperativo afirmativo
Imperative
yo
—
tú
di
él/ella
diga
Imperativo negativo
Negative Imperative
yo
—
tú
digas
él/ella
diga
Tense availability
Supported for this model (informational). Open a verb page to view full conjugation tables by tense.
Supported
More tenses are rolling out over time.
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