Dizer Conjugation in Portuguese
dizer means “to say” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 6 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It is the verb for reporting speech and stating facts, and it is the verb you reach for whenever you quote someone or give an opinion plainly. Its forms are irregular in the present, the pretérito perfeito and the future, so do not guess them from the infinitive: digo, dizes, diz, and disse in the past. This page gives you the complete conjugation of dizer — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu digo a verdade todos os dias.” — “I say the truth.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: dizer
- English: to say
- Verb type: Irregular -er verb
- Irregular in: presente, pretérito perfeito, pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples, futuro do presente, futuro do pretérito, presente do subjuntivo, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, futuro do subjuntivo, imperativo afirmativo, imperativo negativo, particípio, pretérito perfeito composto, pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto, futuro do presente composto, futuro do pretérito composto, presente do subjuntivo composto, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto, futuro do subjuntivo composto
- Gerund: dizendo
- Present participle: dizente
- Past participle: dito
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -er verbs; pattern er in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for dizer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read dizer in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about dizer
- It is irregular in 18 tense(s): presente, pretérito perfeito, pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples, futuro do presente, futuro do pretérito, presente do subjuntivo, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, futuro do subjuntivo, imperativo afirmativo, imperativo negativo, particípio, pretérito perfeito composto, pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto, futuro do presente composto, futuro do pretérito composto, presente do subjuntivo composto, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto, futuro do subjuntivo composto. Learn those forms as a set instead of guessing them from the infinitive, because the stem changes in ways no rule predicts.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle dito. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is dizendo, the present participle is dizente and the past participle is dito: keep all three in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions, the present participle appears as an adjective, and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those three forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for dizer. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | digo |
| tu | dizes |
| ele/ela | diz |
| nós | dizemos |
| vós | dizeis |
| eles/elas | dizem |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu digo a verdade todos os dias.” — “I say the truth”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | disse |
| tu | disseste |
| ele/ela | disse |
| nós | dissemos |
| vós | dissestes |
| eles/elas | disseram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu disse a verdade ontem.” — “I said the truth”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | dizia |
| tu | dizias |
| ele/ela | dizia |
| nós | dizíamos |
| vós | dizíeis |
| eles/elas | diziam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu dizia a verdade antigamente.” — “I used to say the truth”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | dissera |
| tu | disseras |
| ele/ela | dissera |
| nós | disséramos |
| vós | disséreis |
| eles/elas | disseram |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu dissera a verdade antes do jantar.” — “I had said the truth”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | direi |
| tu | dirás |
| ele/ela | dirá |
| nós | diremos |
| vós | direis |
| eles/elas | dirão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu direi a verdade amanhã.” — “I will say the truth”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | diria |
| tu | dirias |
| ele/ela | diria |
| nós | diríamos |
| vós | diríeis |
| eles/elas | diriam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu diria a verdade um dia.” — “I would say the truth”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho dito |
| tu | tens dito |
| ele/ela | tem dito |
| nós | temos dito |
| vós | tendes dito |
| eles/elas | têm dito |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem dito a verdade esta semana.” — “He has said the truth”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha dito |
| tu | tinhas dito |
| ele/ela | tinha dito |
| nós | tínhamos dito |
| vós | tínheis dito |
| eles/elas | tinham dito |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha dito a verdade antes do jantar.” — “I had said the truth”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei dito |
| tu | terás dito |
| ele/ela | terá dito |
| nós | teremos dito |
| vós | tereis dito |
| eles/elas | terão dito |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei dito a verdade até amanhã.” — “I will have said the truth”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria dito |
| tu | terias dito |
| ele/ela | teria dito |
| nós | teríamos dito |
| vós | teríeis dito |
| eles/elas | teriam dito |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria dito a verdade ontem.” — “I would have said the truth”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | diga |
| tu | digas |
| ele/ela | diga |
| nós | digamos |
| vós | digais |
| eles/elas | digam |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu diga a verdade.” — “It is important that I say the truth”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | dissesse |
| tu | dissesses |
| ele/ela | dissesse |
| nós | disséssemos |
| vós | dissésseis |
| eles/elas | dissessem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu dissesse a verdade.” — “It was important that I say the truth”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | disser |
| tu | disseres |
| ele/ela | disser |
| nós | dissermos |
| vós | disserdes |
| eles/elas | disserem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu disser a verdade, é bom.” — “If I say the truth, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | diz |
| ele/ela | diga |
| nós | digamos |
| vós | dizei |
| eles/elas | digam |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Diz a verdade!” — “Say the truth!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não digas |
| ele/ela | não diga |
| nós | não digamos |
| vós | não digais |
| eles/elas | não digam |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não digas a verdade.” — “Do not say the truth.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha dito |
| tu | tenhas dito |
| ele/ela | tenha dito |
| nós | tenhamos dito |
| vós | tenhais dito |
| eles/elas | tenham dito |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha dito a verdade.” — “It is important that I have said the truth”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse dito |
| tu | tivesses dito |
| ele/ela | tivesse dito |
| nós | tivéssemos dito |
| vós | tivésseis dito |
| eles/elas | tivessem dito |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse dito a verdade.” — “It was important that I had said the truth”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver dito |
| tu | tiveres dito |
| ele/ela | tiver dito |
| nós | tivermos dito |
| vós | tiverdes dito |
| eles/elas | tiverem dito |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver dito a verdade, é bom.” — “If I have said the truth, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | dizendo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Dizendo a verdade, aprendo muito.” — “While saying the truth, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | dizente |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle dizente is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective. You will meet dizente more often as an adjective or a noun than as a verb form, so learn it as a word in its own right.
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | dito |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho dito a verdade esta semana.” — “I have said the truth.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with dizer, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu digo a verdade todos os dias.” — “I say the truth”
- “Tu disseste a verdade ontem.” — “You said the truth”
- “Ele dizia a verdade antigamente.” — “He used to say the truth”
- “Eu direi a verdade amanhã.” — “I will say the truth”
- “Tu dirias a verdade um dia.” — “You would say the truth”
- “Ele tem dito a verdade esta semana.” — “He has said the truth”
- “Eu tinha dito a verdade antes do jantar.” — “I had said the truth”
- “Tu terás dito a verdade até amanhã.” — “You will have said the truth”
- “É importante que eu diga a verdade.” — “It is important that I say the truth”
- “Diz a verdade!” — “Say the truth!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu dizer a verdade.”
✓ Right: “Eu digo a verdade todos os dias.”
The infinitive dizer never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form digo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu dizes a verdade.”
✓ Right: “Eu digo a verdade todos os dias.”
dizes is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with digo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu digo a verdade ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu disse a verdade ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito disse for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou dito a verdade.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho dito a verdade esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of dizer is formed with ter plus the past participle dito: the eu form is tenho dito. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu digo a verdade.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu diga a verdade.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use diga here, not the indicative digo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho dizendo a verdade.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho dito a verdade esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle dito, not the gerund dizendo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on dizer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of dizer in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) dizes
- B) digo
- C) diz
- D) dizemos
What is the ele/ela form of dizer in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) disseste
- B) dissemos
- C) disse
- D) dissestes
What is the nós form of dizer in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) dizia
- B) dizias
- C) dizíeis
- D) dizíamos
What is the tu form of dizer in the Futuro do presente?
- A) dirás
- B) direi
- C) dirá
- D) diremos
What is the eu form of dizer in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) dirias
- B) diria
- C) diríamos
- D) diríeis
What is the ele/ela form of dizer in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho dito
- B) tens dito
- C) tem dito
- D) temos dito
What is the ele/ela form of dizer in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) digas
- B) digamos
- C) digais
- D) diga
What is the eu form of dizer in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) dissesse
- B) dissesses
- C) disséssemos
- D) dissésseis
What is the gerund of dizer?
- A) dito
- B) dizendo
- C) dizer
- D) digo
What does dizer mean in English?
- A) to be
- B) to have
- C) to say
- D) —
Answer key
- B) digo — the correct form is digo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) disse — the correct form is disse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) dizíamos — the correct form is dizíamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) dirás — the correct form is dirás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) diria — the correct form is diria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem dito — the correct form is tem dito. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) diga — the correct form is diga. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) dissesse — the correct form is dissesse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) dizendo — the correct form is dizendo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to say — the correct form is to say. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does dizer mean in English?
dizer means “to say”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is dizer regular or irregular?
dizer is irregular: it is irregular in presente, pretérito perfeito, pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples, futuro do presente, futuro do pretérito, presente do subjuntivo, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo, futuro do subjuntivo, imperativo afirmativo, imperativo negativo, particípio, pretérito perfeito composto, pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto, futuro do presente composto, futuro do pretérito composto, presente do subjuntivo composto, pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto, futuro do subjuntivo composto. The gerund is dizendo and the past participle is dito.
What are the gerund and past participle of dizer?
The gerund is dizendo — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is dito — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho dito.
Which auxiliary does dizer take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
dizer takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho dito. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle dito.
How do I say “I say” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu digo a verdade todos os dias.” — “I say the truth” The eu form of the present is digo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of dizer — every tense of dizer in one place.
- Dizer in the pretérito perfeito tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Dizer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese pretérito perfeito tense guide — the full guide to the pretérito perfeito tense in Portuguese.
- Portuguese irregular verbs — every common irregular Portuguese verb, grouped by pattern.
- Ser conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Ter conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise dizer with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise dizer with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise dizer with the interactive tool.