Decíamos

Decíamos is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb decir. It can translate as “we said” or “we were saying,” depending on context. It is used to refer to statements or speech in the past, often indicating habitual or ongoing action.

Conjugation: decir in the imperfect is: yo decía, tú decías, él decía, nosotros decíamos, vosotros decíais, ellos decían. The form decíais is the vosotros form common in Spain; for plural you in many other dialects, including Latin America, the corresponding past tense form is ustedes decían.

Usage: The imperfect form emphasizes that the act of saying occurred over time or was not tied to a single completed moment. It is frequently used to describe habitual statements in the past or to set the scene in narrative prose. It is also employed in reported speech to recount what people were saying at a previous time.

Examples: Decíamos que volveríamos al día siguiente. Decíamos siempre la verdad. In a narrative, decíamos can introduce indirect speech about ongoing dialogue, as in Decíamos que no era seguro continuar.

Etymology: decimos derives from the Latin dicere, meaning “to say.” The imperfect form decíamos reflects the same root with Spanish imperfect endings, indicating past, ongoing, or habitual action.

See also: Conjugation of decir; Spanish imperfect indicative; past narration in Spanish.