Saying “Said” in Spanish Past Tense: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering the past tense forms of the verb “decir” (to say) in Spanish is crucial for effective communication. Whether you’re narrating a story, reporting past events, or simply engaging in conversation, knowing how to accurately express “said” is essential. This comprehensive guide breaks down the various past tense forms of “decir,” providing detailed explanations, examples, and practice exercises to help you confidently use them in your Spanish.

This article is designed for Spanish learners of all levels, from beginners who are just starting to explore past tenses to advanced students looking to refine their understanding and usage. By the end of this guide, you will have a solid grasp of the different ways to say “said” in Spanish and be able to choose the appropriate tense for any given context.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of “Decir” and Its Past Tenses
• Structural Breakdown of Past Tenses of “Decir”
• Types and Categories of Past Tenses
  • Preterite (Indefinido)
  • Imperfect (Imperfecto)
  • Perfect (Perfecto)
  • Pluperfect (Pluscuamperfecto)
  • Conditional Perfect (Condicional Perfecto)
• Examples of “Decir” in Past Tenses
  • Preterite Examples
  • Imperfect Examples
  • Perfect Examples
  • Pluperfect Examples
  • Conditional Perfect Examples
• Usage Rules for Past Tenses of “Decir”
• Common Mistakes When Using Past Tenses of “Decir”
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Nuances of “Decir”
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of “Decir” and Its Past Tenses

The Spanish verb “decir” means “to say” or “to tell” in English. It is an irregular verb, which means its conjugation doesn’t follow the standard patterns. Mastering its past tense forms is crucial for expressing what someone said at a specific time, what they used to say, or what they had said before another event.

The past tenses of “decir” are used to describe actions that occurred in the past. Each tense has a specific usage and conveys a different nuance of time and completion. Understanding these nuances is key to accurate and effective communication in Spanish.

Structural Breakdown of Past Tenses of “Decir”

The past tenses of “decir” are formed using different stems and endings. The irregularity of the verb primarily affects the stem. Here’s a basic breakdown of the stem changes and regular endings for each tense:

• Preterite (Indefinido): Stem changes to dij-. Endings: -e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -eron.
• Imperfect (Imperfecto): Stem is dec-. Regular -ir endings: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.
• Perfect (Perfecto): Formed with the auxiliary verb haber (to have) in the present tense + past participle dicho.
• Pluperfect (Pluscuamperfecto): Formed with the auxiliary verb haber in the imperfect tense + past participle dicho.
• Conditional Perfect (Condicional Perfecto): Formed with the auxiliary verb haber in the conditional tense + past participle dicho.

Types and Categories of Past Tenses of “Decir”

Spanish offers several past tense options to express different aspects of “said.” Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones:

Preterite (Indefinido)

The preterite tense (also known as indefinido) is used to describe completed actions in the past. It focuses on the action having a definite beginning and end. This tense is often used to narrate specific events or actions that happened at a particular point in time.

Imperfect (Imperfecto)

The imperfect tense describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It’s used to set the scene, describe what used to happen, or express actions that were in progress when something else occurred. It emphasizes the duration or repetition of an action rather than its completion.

Perfect (Perfecto)

The perfect tense describes actions that have been completed recently or are relevant to the present. It connects the past action to the present moment. This tense uses the auxiliary verb “haber” (to have) in the present tense followed by the past participle “dicho.”

Pluperfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

The pluperfect tense (also known as past perfect) describes actions that were completed before another action in the past. It’s used to establish a sequence of events in the past, emphasizing that one action occurred before another. It uses the auxiliary verb “haber” in the imperfect tense followed by the past participle “dicho.”

Conditional Perfect (Condicional Perfecto)

The conditional perfect tense expresses what someone would have said or would have done, typically in hypothetical situations in the past. It indicates an action that would have happened if something else had occurred. It uses the auxiliary verb “haber” in the conditional tense followed by the past participle “dicho.”

Examples of “Decir” in Past Tenses

Here are examples of “decir” conjugated in various past tenses, illustrating their usage in context:

Preterite Examples

The following table provides examples of “decir” in the preterite tense, showing how it’s used to describe completed actions in the past.

Subject Pronoun	Preterite Conjugation	English Translation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Dije	I said	Yo dije la verdad.	I said the truth.
Tú	Dijiste	You said	Tú dijiste que vendrías.	You said you would come.
Él/Ella/Usted	Dijo	He/She/You (formal) said	Ella dijo que estaba cansada.	She said she was tired.
Nosotros	Dijimos	We said	Nosotros dijimos que sí.	We said yes.
Vosotros	Dijisteis	You (plural, informal) said	Vosotros dijisteis la respuesta.	You said the answer.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Dijeron	They/You (plural, formal) said	Ellos dijeron adiós.	They said goodbye.
Yo	Dije	I said	Ayer dije una mentira.	Yesterday, I told a lie.
Tú	Dijiste	You said	¿Qué dijiste? No te oí.	What did you say? I didn’t hear you.
Él/Ella/Usted	Dijo	He/She/You (formal) said	Mi jefe dijo que tengo un buen desempeño.	My boss said I have good performance.
Nosotros	Dijimos	We said	Dijimos que llegaríamos a tiempo.	We said we would arrive on time.
Vosotros	Dijisteis	You (plural, informal) said	¿Dijisteis algo sobre mí?	Did you say something about me?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Dijeron	They/You (plural, formal) said	Los niños dijeron que querían helado.	The children said they wanted ice cream.
Yo	Dije	I said	Le dije que no podía ir.	I told him/her that I couldn’t go.
Tú	Dijiste	You said	Dijiste que me llamarías.	You said you would call me.
Él/Ella/Usted	Dijo	He/She/You (formal) said	El profesor dijo que habría un examen.	The professor said there would be an exam.
Nosotros	Dijimos	We said	Dijimos la verdad a nuestros padres.	We told the truth to our parents.
Vosotros	Dijisteis	You (plural, informal) said	Dijisteis una tontería.	You said something silly.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Dijeron	They/You (plural, formal) said	Dijeron que la película era buena.	They said the movie was good.
Yo	Dije	I said	Anoche dije muchas cosas.	Last night, I said many things.
Tú	Dijiste	You said	Tú dijiste que lo harías.	You said you would do it.
Él/Ella/Usted	Dijo	He/She/You (formal) said	Mi madre dijo que me amaba.	My mother said she loved me.
Nosotros	Dijimos	We said	Dijimos que estábamos de acuerdo.	We said we agreed.
Vosotros	Dijisteis	You (plural, informal) said	¿Qué dijisteis sobre mi coche?	What did you say about my car?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Dijeron	They/You (plural, formal) said	Dijeron que no podían venir.	They said they couldn’t come.

Imperfect Examples

The imperfect tense is used to describe actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past. It’s also used for descriptions and setting the scene.

Subject Pronoun	Imperfect Conjugation	English Translation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Decía	I used to say / I was saying	Yo decía la verdad siempre.	I always used to tell the truth.
Tú	Decías	You used to say / You were saying	Tú decías que querías ser doctor.	You used to say you wanted to be a doctor.
Él/Ella/Usted	Decía	He/She/You (formal) used to say / was saying	Ella decía que le gustaba la música.	She used to say she liked music.
Nosotros	Decíamos	We used to say / We were saying	Nosotros decíamos que éramos amigos.	We used to say we were friends.
Vosotros	Decíais	You (plural, informal) used to say / were saying	Vosotros decíais tonterías.	You used to say silly things.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Decían	They/You (plural, formal) used to say / were saying	Ellos decían que iban a viajar.	They used to say they were going to travel.
Yo	Decía	I used to say / I was saying	Cuando era niño, decía muchas mentiras.	When I was a child, I used to tell many lies.
Tú	Decías	You used to say / You were saying	Antes decías que te gustaba el café.	Before, you used to say you liked coffee.
Él/Ella/Usted	Decía	He/She/You (formal) used to say / was saying	Él decía lo que pensaba.	He used to say what he thought.
Nosotros	Decíamos	We used to say / We were saying	Siempre decíamos que íbamos a ganar.	We always used to say we were going to win.
Vosotros	Decíais	You (plural, informal) used to say / were saying	Decíais que era fácil.	You used to say it was easy.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Decían	They/You (plural, formal) used to say / were saying	Decían que la vida era bella.	They used to say life was beautiful.
Yo	Decía	I used to say / I was saying	Decía que iba a estudiar medicina.	I used to say I was going to study medicine.
Tú	Decías	You used to say / You were saying	Decías que ibas a venir a visitarme.	You used to say you were going to come visit me.
Él/Ella/Usted	Decía	He/She/You (formal) used to say / was saying	Mi abuela decía muchos refranes.	My grandmother used to say many proverbs.
Nosotros	Decíamos	We used to say / We were saying	Decíamos que íbamos a ser ricos.	We used to say we were going to be rich.
Vosotros	Decíais	You (plural, informal) used to say / were saying	Decíais que no teníais miedo.	You used to say you weren’t afraid.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Decían	They/You (plural, formal) used to say / were saying	Decían que les gustaba mi comida.	They used to say they liked my food.
Yo	Decía	I used to say / I was saying	Antes, yo decía que no me gustaba el invierno.	Before, I used to say I didn’t like winter.
Tú	Decías	You used to say / You were saying	Decías que eras muy feliz.	You used to say you were very happy.
Él/Ella/Usted	Decía	He/She/You (formal) used to say / was saying	Siempre decía que iba a cambiar el mundo.	He always used to say he was going to change the world.
Nosotros	Decíamos	We used to say / We were saying	Decíamos que éramos invencibles.	We used to say we were invincible.
Vosotros	Decíais	You (plural, informal) used to say / were saying	Decíais que no os importaba.	You used to say you didn’t care.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Decían	They/You (plural, formal) used to say / were saying	Decían que todo iba a estar bien.	They used to say everything was going to be okay.

Perfect Examples

The perfect tense connects a past action to the present. It’s formed with “haber” in the present tense + “dicho.”

Subject Pronoun	Perfect Conjugation	English Translation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	He dicho	I have said	Yo he dicho la verdad.	I have said the truth.
Tú	Has dicho	You have said	Tú has dicho cosas muy interesantes.	You have said very interesting things.
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha dicho	He/She/You (formal) has said	Ella ha dicho que está contenta.	She has said that she is happy.
Nosotros	Hemos dicho	We have said	Nosotros hemos dicho que sí.	We have said yes.
Vosotros	Habéis dicho	You (plural, informal) have said	Vosotros habéis dicho muchas mentiras.	You have said many lies.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han dicho	They/You (plural, formal) have said	Ellos han dicho que vendrán.	They have said they will come.
Yo	He dicho	I have said	Hoy he dicho muchas cosas importantes.	Today, I have said many important things.
Tú	Has dicho	You have said	¿Qué has dicho sobre mí?	What have you said about me?
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha dicho	He/She/You (formal) has said	El presidente ha dicho que habrá cambios.	The president has said there will be changes.
Nosotros	Hemos dicho	We have said	Hemos dicho todo lo que sabíamos.	We have said everything we knew.
Vosotros	Habéis dicho	You (plural, informal) have said	Habéis dicho la verdad.	You have said the truth.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han dicho	They/You (plural, formal) have said	Han dicho que les gusta la fiesta.	They have said they like the party.
Yo	He dicho	I have said	Ya he dicho lo que pienso.	I have already said what I think.
Tú	Has dicho	You have said	No me has dicho todo.	You haven’t told me everything.
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha dicho	He/She/You (formal) has said	Mi padre ha dicho que está orgulloso de mí.	My father has said he’s proud of me.
Nosotros	Hemos dicho	We have said	Hemos dicho que necesitamos ayuda.	We have said we need help.
Vosotros	Habéis dicho	You (plural, informal) have said	¿Qué habéis dicho a los niños?	What have you told the children?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han dicho	They/You (plural, formal) have said	Han dicho que están de acuerdo.	They have said they agree.
Yo	He dicho	I have said	Nunca he dicho una mentira.	I have never told a lie.
Tú	Has dicho	You have said	Has dicho algo muy importante.	You have said something very important.
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha dicho	He/She/You (formal) has said	Mi hermana ha dicho que se va a casar.	My sister has said she’s going to get married.
Nosotros	Hemos dicho	We have said	Hemos dicho que estamos cansados.	We have said we are tired.
Vosotros	Habéis dicho	You (plural, informal) have said	Habéis dicho que os gusta mi casa.	You have said you like my house.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han dicho	They/You (plural, formal) have said	Han dicho que van a venir a la fiesta.	They have said they are going to come to the party.

Pluperfect Examples

The pluperfect tense describes an action completed before another past action. It’s formed with “haber” in the imperfect tense + “dicho.”

Subject Pronoun	Pluperfect Conjugation	English Translation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Había dicho	I had said	Yo ya había dicho que no quería ir.	I had already said that I didn’t want to go.
Tú	Habías dicho	You had said	Tú habías dicho que me ayudarías.	You had said you would help me.
Él/Ella/Usted	Había dicho	He/She/You (formal) had said	Ella había dicho que estaba enferma.	She had said that she was sick.
Nosotros	Habíamos dicho	We had said	Nosotros habíamos dicho que lo haríamos.	We had said that we would do it.
Vosotros	Habíais dicho	You (plural, informal) had said	Vosotros habíais dicho la verdad antes.	You had told the truth before.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) had said	Ellos habían dicho que llegarían tarde.	They had said they would arrive late.
Yo	Había dicho	I had said	Antes de que me preguntaras, ya había dicho que sí.	Before you asked me, I had already said yes.
Tú	Habías dicho	You had said	No recordaba que tú habías dicho eso.	I didn’t remember that you had said that.
Él/Ella/Usted	Había dicho	He/She/You (formal) had said	El profesor había dicho que el examen era difícil.	The professor had said that the exam was difficult.
Nosotros	Habíamos dicho	We had said	Ya habíamos dicho que no estábamos de acuerdo.	We had already said that we didn’t agree.
Vosotros	Habíais dicho	You (plural, informal) had said	Habíais dicho que os gustaba la película.	You had said you liked the movie.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) had said	Habían dicho que no podían venir a la fiesta.	They had said they couldn’t come to the party.
Yo	Había dicho	I had said	Ya te había dicho que no me molestaras.	I had already told you not to bother me.
Tú	Habías dicho	You had said	Habías dicho que me ibas a llamar.	You had said you were going to call me.
Él/Ella/Usted	Había dicho	He/She/You (formal) had said	Mi madre había dicho que me amaba.	My mother had said that she loved me.
Nosotros	Habíamos dicho	We had said	Habíamos dicho que estábamos ocupados.	We had said that we were busy.
Vosotros	Habíais dicho	You (plural, informal) had said	¿Qué habíais dicho antes de que llegara?	What had you said before I arrived?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) had said	Habían dicho que iban a llegar temprano.	They had said they were going to arrive early.
Yo	Había dicho	I had said	Había dicho que no quería comer nada más.	I had said I didn’t want to eat anything else.
Tú	Habías dicho	You had said	Habías dicho que te gustaba mi coche.	You had said you liked my car.
Él/Ella/Usted	Había dicho	He/She/You (formal) had said	El jefe había dicho que habría un aumento.	The boss had said there would be a raise.
Nosotros	Habíamos dicho	We had said	Habíamos dicho que íbamos a ganar el partido.	We had said we were going to win the game.
Vosotros	Habíais dicho	You (plural, informal) had said	Habíais dicho que no teníais dinero.	You had said you didn’t have any money.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) had said	Habían dicho que iban a visitar a sus abuelos.	They had said they were going to visit their grandparents.

Conditional Perfect Examples

The conditional perfect describes what would have been said or done in a hypothetical past situation. It’s formed with “haber” in the conditional tense + “dicho.”

Subject Pronoun	Conditional Perfect Conjugation	English Translation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	Habría dicho	I would have said	Yo habría dicho que sí, pero no me preguntaste.	I would have said yes, but you didn’t ask me.
Tú	Habrías dicho	You would have said	Tú habrías dicho la verdad si hubieras sabido.	You would have said the truth if you had known.
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría dicho	He/She/You (formal) would have said	Ella habría dicho que te amaba.	She would have said she loved you.
Nosotros	Habríamos dicho	We would have said	Nosotros habríamos dicho que estábamos de acuerdo.	We would have said we agreed.
Vosotros	Habríais dicho	You (plural, informal) would have said	Vosotros habríais dicho que lo sentíais.	You would have said you were sorry.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) would have said	Ellos habrían dicho que no podían venir.	They would have said they couldn’t come.
Yo	Habría dicho	I would have said	Si me hubieras preguntado, habría dicho que sí.	If you had asked me, I would have said that yes.
Tú	Habrías dicho	You would have said	Si hubieras tenido la oportunidad, habrías dicho lo que pensabas.	If you had had the opportunity, you would have said what you thought.
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría dicho	He/She/You (formal) would have said	Él habría dicho que estaba cansado.	He would have said he was tired.
Nosotros	Habríamos dicho	We would have said	Habríamos dicho que sí, si hubiéramos sabido.	We would have said yes if we had known.
Vosotros	Habríais dicho	You (plural, informal) would have said	Habríais dicho que no os gustaba.	You would have said you didn’t like it.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) would have said	Habrían dicho que estaban ocupados.	They would have said they were busy.
Yo	Habría dicho	I would have said	Habría dicho que te esperaría.	I would have said I would wait for you.
Tú	Habrías dicho	You would have said	Habrías dicho que me perdonabas.	You would have said you forgave me.
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría dicho	He/She/You (formal) would have said	Mi abuela habría dicho que el tiempo cura todo.	My grandmother would have said that time heals everything.
Nosotros	Habríamos dicho	We would have said	Habríamos dicho que éramos felices.	We would have said we were happy.
Vosotros	Habríais dicho	You (plural, informal) would have said	Habríais dicho que lo entendíais.	You would have said you understood it.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) would have said	Habrían dicho que estaban de acuerdo con nosotros.	They would have said they agreed with us.
Yo	Habría dicho	I would have said	Habría dicho que te amaba, si hubiera tenido el valor.	I would have said I loved you, if I had had the courage.
Tú	Habrías dicho	You would have said	Habrías dicho que lo harías mejor la próxima vez.	You would have said you would do better next time.
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría dicho	He/She/You (formal) would have said	El profesor habría dicho que estudiáramos más.	The professor would have said we should study more.
Nosotros	Habríamos dicho	We would have said	Habríamos dicho que estábamos preparados.	We would have said we were prepared.
Vosotros	Habríais dicho	You (plural, informal) would have said	Habríais dicho que estabais bromeando.	You would have said you were joking.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían dicho	They/You (plural, formal) would have said	Habrían dicho que lo sentían mucho.	They would have said they were very sorry.

Usage Rules for Past Tenses of “Decir”

Choosing the correct past tense of “decir” depends on the context and the specific meaning you want to convey. Here are some general rules to guide you:

• Preterite: Use for completed actions with a clear beginning and end. Think of it as narrating specific events.
• Imperfect: Use for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, descriptions, and setting the scene. Think of it as describing what *used to* happen.
• Perfect: Use for actions completed recently or that have relevance to the present. Think of it as connecting the past to now.
• Pluperfect: Use for actions completed before another action in the past. Think of it as establishing a sequence of events.
• Conditional Perfect: Use for hypothetical past situations, expressing what *would have* been said or done.

Common Mistakes When Using Past Tenses of “Decir”

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the past tenses of “decir”:

• Confusing Preterite and Imperfect: This is the most common mistake. Remember that preterite is for completed actions, while imperfect is for ongoing or habitual actions.
• Incorrect Stem Changes: “Decir” is irregular in the preterite, so remember the stem changes to dij-.
• Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb “Haber”: The perfect, pluperfect, and conditional perfect tenses require the auxiliary verb “haber.” Don’t forget to conjugate it correctly.
• Misusing the Past Participle: The past participle of “decir” is “dicho.” Make sure to use the correct form.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct past tense form of “decir”:

Answers:

Answers:

Advanced Topics: Nuances of “Decir”

Beyond the basic conjugations, “decir” can be used in various idiomatic expressions and with different nuances. For example:

• Decirle a alguien algo: To tell someone something. (e.g., Le dije la verdad – I told him/her the truth.)
• Decirse: To say to oneself. (e.g., Me dije a mí mismo que todo estaría bien – I said to myself that everything would be okay.)
• Por decir algo: Just to say something. (e.g., Lo dije por decir algo – I said it just to say something.)

Understanding these nuances can further enhance your ability to use “decir” effectively in Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering the past tenses of “decir” is a significant step towards fluency in Spanish. By understanding the nuances of each tense and practicing their usage, you can confidently express yourself in a variety of contexts. Remember to pay attention to the context, consider the timing of the action, and avoid common mistakes. With practice, you’ll be able to use the past tenses of “decir” accurately and effectively, enhancing your overall communication skills in Spanish.