Do you want to expand your vocabulary in Spanish? Learning how to say “to” is a fundamental step. This versatile word has a variety of uses, making it a key part of everyday conversations. Whether you’re expressing your thoughts or describing actions, understanding how to use “to” will open up a world of possibilities in your Spanish communication. So, let’s dive right in and explore the intricacies of “to” in Spanish.
The most common way to say “to” in Spanish is “a,” which is used before nouns and infinitives. For example, “Voy a la tienda” means “I’m going to the store,” and “Quiero hablar con él” means “I want to talk to him.” However, there are other prepositions that can also mean “to” in certain contexts. For instance, “para” is used before infinitives to indicate purpose (“Voy para comprar leche” means “I’m going to buy milk”), and “hacia” is used to indicate direction (“Voy hacia el parque” means “I’m going to the park”).
Knowing how to use “to” in Spanish is essential for clear and effective communication. By understanding the different ways to express this concept, you’ll be able to convey your ideas with confidence and precision. So, embrace the versatility of “to” and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Spanish conversation.
Basic Conjugations for “To Say” (“Decir”)
Mastering the verb “decir” (to say) is crucial in Spanish communication. Here’s a breakdown of its basic conjugations in the present, past, and future tenses:
Present Tense
The present tense of “decir” is used to express actions or states that are currently happening. The conjugations vary depending on the subject pronoun, as shown in the table below:
| Subject Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | digo |
| tú | dices |
| él/ella/usted | dice |
| nosotros/nosotras | decimos |
| vosotros/vosotras | decís |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | dicen |
In the present tense, “decir” translates to “I say,” “you say,” “he/she says,” “we say,” “you (plural) say,” or “they say,” depending on the subject.
Using “Decir” in the Present Tense
The verb “decir” is one of the most common verbs in Spanish, meaning “to say” or “to tell.” It is conjugated in the present tense as follows:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Yo (I) | digo | decimos |
| Tú (you) | dices | decís |
| Él/Ella/Usted (he/she/you) | dice | dicen |
To use “decir” in the present tense, simply conjugate the verb to match the subject of the sentence. For example:
- Yo digo la verdad. (I say the truth.)
- Tú dices que no. (You say no.)
- Él dice que está bien. (He says he’s fine.)
- Nosotros decimos adiós. (We say goodbye.)
- Vosotros decís que sí. (You (plural) say yes.)
- Ellos dicen que no pueden. (They say they can’t.)
Saying “To Say” in the Imperfect Tense
In the imperfect tense, “to say” is expressed using the imperfect indicative form of the verb “decir”:
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| I | decía |
| You (formal) | decía |
| He/She/You (informal) | decía |
| We | decíamos |
| You (plural, formal) | decían |
| They/You (plural, informal) | decían |
The imperfect tense is used to describe actions or events that were ongoing or habitual in the past. It can also be used to express a state of mind or feeling in the past.
To say “to say” in the imperfect tense, simply conjugate the verb “decir” in the imperfect tense and add the infinitive of the verb that is being said.
For example:
Using “Decir” in the Future Tense
To form the future tense of “decir,” you will need to conjugate the auxiliary verb “ir” (to go) in the present tense and add the infinitive “decir.” The conjugation of “ir” in the present tense is as follows:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy |
| Tú | vas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | vamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | vais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van |
To form the future tense of “decir,” simply add the infinitive “decir” to the conjugated form of “ir.” For example:
- Yo voy a decir
- Tú vas a decir
- Él/Ella/Usted va a decir
- Nosotros/Nosotras vamos a decir
- Vosotros/Vosotras vais a decir
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes van a decir
Forming the Conditional and Subjunctive Moods
Conditional Mood
The conditional mood is used to express a possible or hypothetical situation. There are two main types of conditional sentences: the conditional simple and the conditional perfect.
Conditional Simple
The conditional simple is used to express a possible or hypothetical situation in the present or future. It is formed by using the imperfect indicative of the verb plus the conditional ending -ría.
| Subject | Imperfect Indicative | Conditional Ending | Conditional Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablaba | -ría | hablaría |
| tú | hablabas | -rías | hablarías |
| él/ella/usted | hablaba | -ría | hablaría |
| nosotros/nosotras | hablábamos | -ríamos | hablaríamos |
| vosotros/vosotras | hablabais | -ríais | hablaríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablaban | -rían | hablarían |
Conditional Perfect
The conditional perfect is used to express a possible or hypothetical situation in the past. It is formed by using the pluperfect indicative of the verb plus the conditional ending -ría.
| Subject | Pluperfect Indicative | Conditional Ending | Conditional Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | había hablado | -ría | habría hablado |
| tú | habías hablado | -rías | habrías hablado |
| él/ella/usted | había hablado | -ría | habría hablado |
| nosotros/nosotras | habíamos hablado | -ríamos | habríamos hablado |
| vosotros/vosotras | habíais hablado | -ríais | habríais hablado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habían hablado | -rían | habrían hablado |
Conversational Phrases Using “Decir”
In addition to its literal meaning of “to say,” the verb “decir” has a variety of other uses in Spanish. Here are some common conversational phrases that employ this versatile verb:
I Want to Say…
To express a desire or intention to say something, use the phrase “quiero decir.”
Example: Quiero decirte que estoy muy orgulloso de ti. (I want to tell you that I’m very proud of you.)
I Mean…
When you want to clarify or correct something you’ve said, use the phrase “quiero decir.”
Example: Quiero decir, no me gusta mucho el fútbol. (I mean, I don’t like soccer very much.)
Let’s Say…
To propose a hypothetical situation or assume something, use the phrase “digamos.”
Example: Digamos que tienes un millón de dólares. (Let’s say you have a million dollars.)
I Wouldn’t Say…
To express doubt or disagreement, use the phrase “no diría.”
Example: No diría que es la mejor película que he visto. (I wouldn’t say it’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.)
What Do You Say?
To ask for someone’s opinion or suggestion, use the phrase “¿qué dices?”
Example: ¿Qué dices de ir al cine? (What do you say about going to the movies?)
I Told You!
To express satisfaction or triumph after something you predicted has come to pass, use the phrase “te lo dije.”
Example: ¡Te lo dije que iba a llover! (I told you it was going to rain!)
You Never Said!
To express surprise or disappointment at not having been informed of something, use the phrase “nunca me lo dijiste.”
Example: ¡Nunca me lo dijiste que estabas enfermo! (You never told me you were sick!)
I Didn’t Have the Heart to Tell You
To express reluctance or hesitation about sharing bad news, use the phrase “no me atreví a decirte.”
Example: No me atreví a decirte que tu abuela había fallecido. (I didn’t have the heart to tell you your grandmother had passed away.)
How to Say To in Spanish
In Spanish, there are two ways to say “to”: a and para. A is used before a noun or pronoun, while para is used before a verb or infinitive.
For example:
| English | Spanish with a | Spanish with para |
|---|---|---|
| To the store | A la tienda | Para ir a la tienda |
Common Errors and Mispronunciations
One common error is to use a before a verb. For example, instead of saying “Voy a comer” (I am going to eat), people may say “Voy a comer”. This is incorrect.
Another common error is to mispronounce para. The correct pronunciation is “pah-rah”. Some people may pronounce it as “peh-rah” or “puh-rah”, which is incorrect.
Here are some additional tips for saying to in Spanish:
- Use a before a noun or pronoun.
- Use para before a verb or infinitive.
- Pronounce para as “pah-rah”.
With practice, you will be able to say to in Spanish correctly and confidently.
Expanding Your Vocabulary with Synonyms for “To Say”
1. Express
Use “express” to convey your thoughts or ideas in a clear and direct manner. For example, “I expressed my gratitude to the host.”
2. Articulate
Similar to “express,” “articulate” emphasizes the ability to communicate your thoughts eloquently. Example: “He articulated his vision for the company with passion and conviction.”
3. State
“State” implies a formal or official declaration: “The judge stated the verdict in a clear and unambiguous manner.”
4. Proclaim
“Proclaim” suggests a public or authoritative announcement. Example: “The mayor proclaimed the city’s support for the new project.”
5. Utter
“Utter” is used when you want to emphasize the act of speaking without necessarily implying the content or intention. Example: “She uttered a few incoherent words before collapsing.”
6. Declare
“Declare” is similar to “state” but often carries an assertive or emphatic tone. Example: “I declare my love for you unconditionally.”
7. Announce
“Announce” is used to convey important or new information publicly. Example: “The company announced record-breaking profits for the quarter.”
8. Remark
“Remark” is an informal way of saying “say.” It implies a casual or passing comment. Example: “She remarked that the weather was lovely.”
9. Mention
“Mention” is used to briefly refer to something in passing. Example: “He mentioned that he had been working on a new project.”
10. Communicate
“Communicate” encompasses both speaking and writing, emphasizing the exchange and understanding of information. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Example: “We communicated our concerns to the management team.”
| Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| State | Say |
| Declare | Tell |
| Announce | Mention |
How to Say “To” in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to” is “a”. It is used to indicate the destination, direction, or purpose of an action. For example:
- Voy a la escuela. (I am going to school.)
- Voy a comer. (I am going to eat.)
- Quiero ir a la playa. (I want to go to the beach.)
“A” can also be used to introduce an infinitive, which is the verb form that ends in “-ar”, “-er”, or “-ir”. For example:
- Quiero aprender español. (I want to learn Spanish.)
- Necesito comprar un libro. (I need to buy a book.)
- Me gusta bailar. (I like to dance.)
People Also Ask About How to Say To In Spanish
What is the difference between “a” and “para”?
“A” is used to indicate the destination or purpose of an action, while “para” is used to indicate the purpose or reason for doing something. For example:
- Voy a la escuela. (I am going to school.)
- Voy para aprender español. (I am going to learn Spanish.)
How do I say “to” in the imperative form?
In the imperative form, “a” is not used. Instead, the infinitive is used alone. For example:
- Ve a la escuela. (Go to school.)
- Compra un libro. (Buy a book.)
- Baila conmigo. (Dance with me.)
How do I say “how to” in Spanish?
To say “how to” in Spanish, use the phrase “cómo”. For example:
- ¿Cómo voy a la escuela? (How do I get to school?)
- ¿Cómo se dice “hola” en español? (How do you say “hello” in Spanish?)
- ¿Cómo puedo aprender español? (How can I learn Spanish?)
