Decidir

Decidir is a Spanish verb meaning to decide or to determine. It is transitive, used with a direct object (decidir algo) or with an infinitive clause (decidir hacer algo). It also occurs reflexively as decidirse, meaning to make up one’s mind or to decide to do something.

Etymology and related terms: Decidir comes from Latin decidere, meaning to cut off or to separate decisively, with the sense of choosing by eliminating other options. The related noun is decision in Spanish, decisión, and the verb is often used in combination with phrases such as tomar una decisión (to make a decision).

Conjugation and forms: Decidir is an -ir verb that presents a stem change in the present tense. In the present indicative, the forms are decido, decides, decide, decidimos, decidís, deciden. The preterite is decidí, decidiste, decidió, decidimos, decidisteis, decidieron. The imperfect is decidía, decidías, decidía, decidíamos, decidíais, decidían. The future is decidiré, decidirás, decidirá, decidiremos, decidiréis, decidirán. The conditional is decidiría, decidirías, decidiría, decidiríamos, decidiríais, decidirían. The imperative forms are: decide (tú), decida (usted), decidamos (nosotros), decidid (vosotros), decidan (ustedes). The reflexive form is decidirse (me decido, te decides, se decide, nos decidimos, os decidís, se deciden).

Usage notes: Decidir is used with a direct object or with an infinitive, e.g., decidir algo, decidir hacer algo. It can also appear with phrases like decidir entre (to decide between) or decidirse por (to opt for) and decidirse a (to decide to). Common expressions include tomar una decisión and, in some contexts, resolver.