What does decir in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word decir in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use decir in Spanish.

The word decir in Spanish means say, say, say to yourself, tell yourself, be said, be rumored, say, call yourself, say, to tell the truth, truth be told, dare to say, dare to tell, suffice it to say, needless to say, let's just say, needless to say, insult, say goodbye to, say goodbye, say with subtlety, diss , badmouth , slag off, say nasty things about, say nice things, give a piece of your mind, recite by memory, say by memory, refuse to give 's name, brag, rave about, give mass, say mass, tell yourself, bad mouth, be pointless to keep talking, say yes, say no to, in a flash, that is, goes without saying, be needless to say, not utter a word, not say a peep, not say squat, be as quiet as a church mouse, not make a peep, not say a peep, not say a word, not say no to, for example, not to say, mean, mean, that's saying something, be a figure of speech, without a warning, without warning, without previously letting you know, without saying a word, without a word, just like that, without a word, just like that, without saying a word, needless to say, have the final say, say again. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word decir

say

verbo transitivo (expresar con palabras) ([sth] to [sb])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
¡Venid a merendar!, dijo la madre.
"Come have a bite to eat," said the mother.

say

verbo transitivo (opinar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Dice que no le gusta la música moderna.
He says he doesn't like modern music.

say to yourself, tell yourself

verbo pronominal (hablar consigo mismo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Me dije que debía aprovechar la ocasión.
I said to myself that I should take advantage of the occasion.

be said, be rumored

verbo transitivo (hablarse, opinarse) (US)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Se dice que es mejor vivir en ciudad pequeña que grande.
It is said that living in a small city is better than in a large one.

say

verbo pronominal (tener algo un nombre)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
¿Cómo se dice 'coche' en inglés?
How do you say "coche" in English?

call yourself

verbo pronominal (hacerse llamar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tuitear: dícese de la forma de comunicarse en menos de 140 caracteres.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. She calls herself "Goldilocks" because of her flowing golden hair.

say

verbo transitivo (murmurar, rumorar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Todo lo que dicen de él es mentira, es un buen hombre.
Everything they say about him is a lie. He is a good man.

to tell the truth, truth be told

locución adverbial (para ser sincero)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
A decir verdad, mi trabajo me avergüenza un poco.
Truth be told, I'm a little ashamed of my job.

dare to say, dare to tell

locución verbal (hablar con franqueza)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Nadie se atreve a decir la verdad en esta casa.
Nobody dares to tell the truth in that house

suffice it to say, needless to say, let's just say

expresión (para concluir, terminar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Hoy no quiero hablar de política; baste decir que los recientes escándalos me tienen harto.
I don't want to talk about politics today: suffice it to say that I'm fed up with all the recent scandals.

needless to say

expresión (es innecesario decir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
De más está decir que en esta casa siempre eres bienvenido.
Needless to say, you are always welcome in this house.

insult

expresión (figurado (insultar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

say goodbye to

locución verbal (despedirse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Decir adiós antes de partir toma valor.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Say goodbye to your little friends! It's time for dinner, Michael!

say goodbye

locución verbal (dejar atrás)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Dile adiós a ese hombre que ya ha pasado mucho tiempo.
Say goodbye to that man; it has already been too long.

say with subtlety

locución verbal (comentar con delicadeza)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

diss , badmouth , slag off

locución verbal (coloquial (descalificar) (discredit: colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El jefe dijo barbaridades del informe.
The boss dissed the report.

say nasty things about

locución verbal (coloquial (hablar mal de alguien)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
María siempre dice barbaridades de su hermana.
Maria is always saying nasty things about her sister.

say nice things

locución verbal (hablar alabando)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Nicolás siempre me dice cosas bonitas.
Nicholas always says nice things to me.

give a piece of your mind

locución verbal (coloquial (regañar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

recite by memory, say by memory

locución verbal (de memoria y seguido)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Solía rezar el rosario por la noches con mi madre y me lo sabía de carrerilla.

refuse to give 's name

expresión (callarse el autor)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

brag

locución verbal (describir cosas excelentes) (be boastful)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Todos los candidatos dicen maravillas, y es trabajo del entrevistador ver quién miente.
All candidates brag and it's the interviewer's task to determine who's lying.

rave about

locución verbal (elogiar, hablar bien de)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La crítica dijo maravillas de la película, pero a mí no me gustó.
The critic raved about the film but I didn't like it.

give mass, say mass

locución verbal (celebrar eucaristía) (religious)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El padre Manuel decía misa todos los domingos en la capilla.
Father Manuel used to say (or: give) mass every Sunday in the chapel.

tell yourself

locución verbal (coloquial (decirse a uno mismo)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")

bad mouth

locución verbal (hablar mal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Laura dijo pestes del novio de Ana.
Laura bad mouthed Ana's boyfriend.

be pointless to keep talking

locución verbal (sin tener razones)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si no concretamos el día y la hora de la cena, es decir por decir.
If we don't set a time and date for dinner, it's pointless to keep talking.

say yes

locución verbal (aceptar, aprobar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le pedí permiso a mi papá y dijo que sí.
I asked my dad for permission and he said yes.

say no to

locución verbal (rechazar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Dile no a las drogas.

in a flash

locución adverbial (coloquial (en brevísimo tiempo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Terminó el examen en un decir amén.

that is

expresión (en otras palabras)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Esta póliza está destinada a conductores jóvenes, es decir, a quienes acaban de obtener su licencia.
This policy is intended for young drivers, meaning those who just got their license.

goes without saying, be needless to say

expresión (no hace falta decirlo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Isaac Asimov es un excelente autor; eso ni que decir tiene.
Isaac Asimov is an excellent author; that goes without saying.

not utter a word

expresión (no soltar palabra)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

not say a peep

locución verbal (no decir palabra) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not say squat

locución verbal (coloquial (permanecer en silencio) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¿Qué le pasa a Pedro? No ha dicho ni mu en toda la tarde.
What's up with Peter? He hasn't said squat all evening.

be as quiet as a church mouse

locución verbal (coloquial (conformarse, no protestar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not make a peep, not say a peep

locución verbal (coloquial (permanecer en silencio)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ana no dijo ni pío en toda la tarde.
Ana didn't make a peep the whole afternoon.

not say a word

locución verbal (coloquial (conformarse, no protestar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
A Manuel le bajaron el sueldo y no dijo ni pío.
Manuel's salary was cut and he didn't say a word.

not say no to

locución verbal (no rehusar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No digas que no a una oportunidad de trabajo.
Don't say no to a job opportunity.

for example

expresión (sólo por hablar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
–¿Qué hago de comer? Y no me digas "no sé". –Pues pizza, por decir algo.

not to say

locución adverbial (si no es que)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Llegar a tiempo es muy difícil, por no decir imposible.
Arriving on time is very difficult, not least impossible.

mean

locución verbal (significar)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
¿Qué quiere decir «borboleta» en portugués?
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. If you don't know what a word means, you can look it up in a dictionary.

mean

locución verbal (tratar de manifestar)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
No estoy tratando de insultarte; lo que quiero decir es que deberías ayudar un poco más en casa.
I'm not trying to insult you; what I mean is that you should help out a little more at home.

that's saying something

locución verbal (informal (ser indulgente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La comida de anoche estaba buena y eso es mucho decir.
The dinner last night was nice - and that's saying something

be a figure of speech

locución verbal (coloquial (es una forma de hablar)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
—¡Solo era un decir! No me estoy muriendo de hambre, pero sí quiero comer algo.
It was just a figure of speech! I'm not really dying of hunger, but I do want to eat something.

without a warning, without warning

locución adverbial (coloquial (sin avisar, sin advertir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Furiosa, se volteó y, sin decir agua va, le dio un tortazo a su novio.

without previously letting you know

locución adverbial (coloquial, desaprobación (sin previo aviso)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Me da rabia que suban los precios de la carne sin decir agua va.

without saying a word

locución adverbial (sin hacer comentario)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
María se fue de la reunión sin decir nada.
Maria left the meeting without saying a word

without a word, just like that

locución adverbial (coloquial (sin aviso, inesperado)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Llegó a su casa y, sin decir oxte ni moxte, se soltó a llorar.

without a word, just like that

locución adverbial (coloquial (sin pedir permiso)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Se salió a mitad de la clase sin decir oxte ni moxte.

without saying a word

locución adverbial (sin hacer comentario)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El jefe escuchó la propuesta sin decir palabra.
The boss listened to the proposal without saying a word.

needless to say

expresión (no hace falta decir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Sobra decir que quien quiera irse puede hacerlo.
Needless to say that anyone who wishes to leave can do so.

have the final say

locución verbal (decidir definitivamente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cuando hay que tomar una decisión importante, mi abuela siempre tiene la última palabra.

say again

locución verbal (repetir lo dicho)

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Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.