French word

dire

Pronunciation

IPA/diʁ/

Meaning

  • verbsay

Example

Je dis toujours la vérité.

I always tell the truth.

Illustration for dire (say)

More examples

Je dis que je viendrai.

I say that I will come.

Core concept

A speaker puts a thought or piece of information into words for another person.

Common phrases

  • dire que

    say that

  • dire à quelqu'un

    say to someone

Similar words

parler: Address someone through spoken language.
répondre: Give a verbal answer to a question or request.
expliquer: Clarify a matter's meaning or reason through words.
répéter: Repeat what was already said in the same words.

Definition in French

Formuler oralement une idée ou une information destinée à quelqu'un.

Word origin

French dire comes from Latin dicere, 'to say', through inherited Romance sound change.

Usage tips

  • Dire takes the recipient with à, as in dire quelque chose à quelqu'un.

Other meanings

  • tellverb
  • stateverb
  • informverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word