Dícese

Dícese is a verb form used in Spanish to introduce a definition or explanation. It functions as an impersonal construction meaning "it is said," "it is defined as," or "one says." In practice, it marks a statement that presents the meaning or scope of a term rather than asserting it in a direct, active voice.

Usage and register: Dícese appears most often in dictionaries, glossaries, encyclopedic entries, academic prose, and, occasionally, legal or religious texts. It is considered archaic or highly formal in contemporary everyday writing, where it is typically replaced by phrases such as "se dice," "se define como," or "la palabra X se refiere a." When used, it is usually followed by a definitional phrase, or introduced with phrases like "Dícese de" or "Dícese que."

Etymology and form: The form derives from an archaic or literary usage related to the verb meaning “to say” and traces conceptually to Latin dicitur, “it is said.” In modern Spanish, the use of dícese conveys a sense of authority, traditional authority, or a scholarly tone.

Examples: Dícese de la palabra “móvil” aquello que puede cambiar de lugar o de posición. Dícese de esta obra que sintetiza el progreso del siglo XX en sus capítulos iniciales, aunque hoy se lea con una mirada crítica. Modern equivalents would be “se llama” or “se define como.”

See also: Definición, diccionario, glosario.