Portuguese · Everyday Verbs
"to say" in Portuguese: dizer
dizer
To say in Portuguese is dizer. Everyday forms are eu digo, você diz, and ela disse. Quero dizer softens a clarification mid-sentence.
Correcting yourself
Quero dizer, o hotel fica mais perto.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce dizer
Say it
jee-ZEHR / JEE-goo / jeez
/dʒi.ˈzeʁ/
jee-ZEHR. Eu digo is JEE-goo; você diz is jeez.
"to say" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| dizer | to say Dictionary infinitive. | Dictionary infinitive. |
| eu digo | I say Present first person. | Present first person. |
| você diz | you say Present with você. | Present with você. |
| disse | said Simple past (eu/ele/ela/você). | Simple past (eu/ele/ela/você). |
| quer dizer | I mean / that is Clarifier in speech. | Clarifier in speech. |
How to use dizer in real life
- 1Correcting yourself
Quero dizer, o hotel fica mais perto.
I mean, the hotel is closer.
Quero dizer repairs a sentence.
- 2Reporting speech
Ela disse que chega às nove.
She said she arrives at nine.
Disse is a key past form.
- 3Giving advice
Eu digo a verdade sempre que posso.
I tell the truth whenever I can.
Digo is present first person.
Mistakes English speakers make with dizer
Incorrect: Eu dizer isso ontem.
Correct: Eu disse isso ontem.
Conjugate: disse in the past, not the infinitive.
Incorrect: Você dizer sim?
Correct: Você diz sim?
Present with você is diz.
Good to know
Dizer covers say and often tell in English. Contar is better for telling a story (contar uma história). Brazilians sprinkle quer dizer when thinking out loud. Digam-me is more European; in Brazil Você diz…? is friendlier.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Clarifying meeting plans
ChatPal
O que você diz do horário?
What do you say about the time?
You
Eu digo que sete é melhor.
I say seven is better.
ChatPal
A Ana disse a mesma coisa.
Ana said the same thing.
You
Então está dito. Fechado.
Then it's said. Done.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to say" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to say" in Portuguese
How do I say I say?
Eu digo.
Past of dizer?
Eu/ele/ela disse; nós dissemos.
Dizer vs contar?
Dizer = say; contar = tell a story/count.
How do I say I mean…?
Quero dizer…
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
