contradecir

Contradecir is a Spanish verb meaning to contradict, refute, or oppose what another person has said. It is used to deny or challenge a statement, claim, or proposition, often in order to show that it is wrong or incompatible with other information. The action is transitive and typically takes a person or statement as its object: contradecir a alguien or contradecir algo.

Etymology and sense

The word comes from contra- (against) and dicere (to say), via Latin and medieval Spanish development. The sense centers on speaking against or opposing what has been stated.

Usage and nuances

Contradecir is commonly used with people or their statements. It can denote a simple disagreement or a formal refutation backed by evidence or reasoning. In legal, academic, or argumentative contexts, contradecir a alguien or contradecir una afirmación is common, sometimes with verbs of reference such as "negar," "refutar," or "desmentir" used in close relation.

Conjugation overview

Contradecir is a regular -cir verb with a distinctive yo form in the present tense. Key forms include:

- Present: contradigo, contradices, contradice, contradecimos, contradicen.

- Preterite: contradije, contradijiste, contradijo, contradijimos, contradijeron.

- Future: contradeciré, contradecirás, contradecirá, contradeciremos, contradeciréis, contradecirán.

- Present subjunctive: contradiga, contradigas, contradiga, contradigamos, contradigáis, contradigan.

- Imperfect indicative: contradecía, contradecías, contradecía, contradecíamos, contradecíais, contradecían.

- Imperative: contradice (tú), contradiga (usted), contradigamos (nosotros), contradigid (vosotros), contradigan (ustedes).

Examples

- El informe contradice la versión de los testigos.

- Yo contradije a mi interlocutor con datos verificables.

See also: contradicción, discusión, decir.