Decir Conjugation 101: Conjugate Decir In Spanish

Decir is one of the most basic -IR verbs in Spanish. However, this verb is highly irregular in all tenses. As a result, in this guide, we’ll review all decir conjugation charts so you learn how to conjugate this verb correctly.

Here is an overview of what you’ll learn:

• Decir Overview
• Indicative Tenses of Decir Conjugations
  • Present tense
  • Preterite tense
  • Imperfect tense
  • Near Future tense
  • Future tense
  • Conditional tense
  • Present Perfect tense
  • Past Perfect tense
  • Future Perfect tense
  • Conditional Perfect tense
  • Progressive tenses
• Subjunctive Tenses of Decir Conjugations 
  • Present Subjunctive tense
  • Present Perfect Subjunctive tense
  • Imperfect Subjunctive tense
  • Past Perfect Subjunctive tense
• Imperative (Commands) of Decir Conjugations
  • Affirmative Commands
  • Negative Commands
• Uses & Examples
• Download Decir Conjugation Tables & Uses Cheat sheets
• Decir Conjugation Practice Quiz

Overview of Decir

Indicative Conjugations of Decir

Present tense

The conjugations of decir in the present tense have an E to I stem change for ‘tú’ and the third person singular and plural. Additionally, the conjugation for yo is formed with the irregular stem dig. 
We use decir conjugated to the present indicative tense to talk about the things people say all the time or are currently saying. For instance: Yo digo que no hay que ir.

Preterite tense

The preterite conjugations of decir are all irregular. As shown in the conjugation chart below, we must use the stem dij to form the preterite tense. Use these conjugations to refer to things people said at a specific moment in time. For example: Ayer me dijiste otra cosa.

Imperfect tense

Decir is a regular verb in the past imperfect tense. Use the imperfect conjugations to refer to things people used to say repeatedly or when it’s unclear when something was said. For example: Mi mamá siempre nos decía que tuviéramos cuidado.

Near future

Use the structure ir (present tense) + a + infinitive (in this case, ‘decir’) to form the near future tense. We use these decir conjugations to express that someone plans to say something in the near to immediate future. For example: Te voy a decir un secreto.

Future simple tense

The future conjugation of decir is irregular and must be formed with the stem dir. We use the future forms of this verb to explain that someone will say something at some point in the future. Algún día te diré qué pasó.

Conditional tense

The conditional conjugations of decir are formed with the irregular stem dir. We use ‘decir’ conjugated to the conditional tense to talk about what people would say if some circumstances were met. These forms are also used to make hypotheses about what people would say. 

Here is an example: ¿Por qué nos dirían eso? 

Present perfect tense

The Spanish present perfect of ‘decir’ is conjugated with the formula haber in the present tense + dicho (past participle). Use these conjugations to talk about the things someone has or hasn’t said. For instance: Sofía no me ha dicho nada.

Take Note: Decir is one of the few Spanish verbs with an irregular past participle form.

Past perfect

Conjugate decir to the past perfect tense to talk about what someone had said before some other reference point in the past. ¿Por qué no me habías dicho? To conjugate the past perfect, use the imperfect form of ‘haber’ and the past participle form of ‘decir’.

Future perfect

The future perfect tense of ‘decir’ refers to things someone will have said by or before a certain moment in the future. We also use these forms to talk about what someone might have said. For example: ¿Qué crees que le habrán dicho a Betty?

Conditional perfect

Use decir conjugated to the Spanish conditional perfect tense to talk about what someone would have said if a past condition had been met. These conjugations are also used to make hypotheses about what someone said in the past. 
For example: Si me hubieras preguntado, te habría dicho.

Progressive tenses

With the verb ‘decir’, the progressive tenses (such as the Spanish present progressive) allow you to refer to the things people are saying at the moment of speaking. Or, if used in the past forms (preterite and imperfect), to express that a past action was in progress when someone was saying something. 

For example: Le estaba diciendo algo a Tania cuando Jim nos interrumpió. 

Take Note: The present participle of decir (diciendo) has an E to I stem change. Other verbs also have these vocalic changes. You can see them in this guide to present participles in Spanish.

Decir Subjunctive Conjugations

The Spanish subjunctive form refers to wishes, requests, suggestions, expectations, doubts, or hypothetical situations. Below are decir conjugation charts for the most common subjunctive tenses.

Present subjunctive

Decir present subjunctive conjugation is irregular. Use the stem dig to form this tense. In Spanish, we use the subjunctive conjugations of ‘decir’ to request or wish someone says or doesn’t say something. For instance: Espero que ustedes no digan nada.

Present perfect subjunctive

Haber in the present subjunctive + dicho is the structure we use to build the present perfect subjunctive of ‘decir’. We use these conjugations to wonder or wish that someone has already said something to another person. ¿Qué crees que les hayan dicho?

Imperfect subjunctive

When conjugated to the imperfect subjunctive, decir refers to past requests, suggestions, and wishes someone had about what a person says. Te pedí que no dijeras nada. These decir conjugations are also irregular and are formed with the stem dij. 
The imperfect subjunctive has two conjugation models depending on which type of Spanish you’re using:

Latin American Spanish version

Note: The conjugation chart above doesn’t include the conjugation for vosotros as this pronoun is not used in Latin American Spanish.

Castilian Spanish version

Past perfect subjunctive

In the past perfect subjunctive, decir expresses that someone would have said something if a past circumstance was met. Additionally, these conjugations also refer to regrets or hypothetical outcomes if someone had said something. 

For example: Ojalá me hubieras dicho antes. 

Decir Imperative Conjugations

In Spanish, the imperative is the mood we use to give commands to someone. 

Affirmative commands

The affirmative imperative conjugations of decir use the stem di for all subject pronouns, except ‘vosotros’. Use ‘decir’ affirmative commands to order people to say something. For example: Dinos qué pasó.

Negative commands

As shown in the conjugation chart below, decir is an irregular verb in the negative imperative. Use these types of commands to order someone not to say something. For instance: ¡No le digas nada!

Meanings of Decir & Examples

Now that you’ve learned how to conjugate decir in Spanish, here are some examples of how to use this verb. 

In Spanish, decir is a transitive verb. This means you need to add additional information, such as what someone says or to whom it’s said. Decir can be translated as ‘to say’ or ‘to tell’.

(Indirect object pronoun) + [decir conjugated] + (complement)

Te juro que yo no le dije nada. 
I swear that I didn’t say anything to her. 

Desearía que no hubieras dicho nada. 
I wish you hadn’t said anything. 

Take Note: Decir is a verb that takes indirect object pronouns in Spanish. Be aware that the position of the pronoun may vary depending on the tense you’re using. You can check these rules here. 

Download Decir Conjugation Tables & Uses Cheat sheets

Decir is a highly irregular verb in Spanish. I’ve created a PDF you can download with all the decir conjugation tables as well as meanings and uses.

Download Conjugations PDF

Practice Quiz: Decir Conjugation

Now that you’ve learned how to conjugate decir in Spanish, you can challenge yourself and practice all the regular and irregular tenses for this verb by taking the decir conjugation practice quiz.