dicen

Dicen is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Spanish verb decir, meaning “they say” or “you all say” depending on the regional formality. It is commonly used to report statements, convey hearsay, or introduce indirect discourse in everyday Spanish.

Etymology and inflection: decir comes from Latin dicere, with related forms such as digo (I say), dices (you say), and dice (he/she/you formal says). The ending -en marks the plural subject in the present indicative, aligning with other irregular -ir vs -er verb patterns in conjugation.

Usage and meaning: Dicen is typically followed by a clause introduced with que to convey reported speech, as in “Dicen que viene mañana” (They say he is coming tomorrow) or “Dicen que estudia mucho” (They say he studies a lot). It can express rumor, general belief, or unverified information. In some contexts, it signals distance or skepticism by attributing a claim to others rather than presenting it as fact.

Regional and stylistic notes: The function of dicen is shared across Spanish varieties, though cadence and preference for reporting verbs may vary. In informal speech, alternatives such as "dicen que..." or simply "dicen" in a dialogue tag are common. The verb remains a key tool for indirect discourse and for presenting information sourced from others.

See also: decir, report speech, indirect discourse, hearsay.