digamos

Digamos is a common Spanish expression that functions as a discourse marker and as the present subjunctive form of the verb decir for nosotros. In everyday usage, it is typically translated as let’s say or suppose and is used to introduce hypothetical or illustrative scenarios.

Grammatically, digamos comes from the verb decir in the present subjunctive mood (nosotros form). It is used to frame a hypothetical or provisional statement, often followed by a clausal verb in the subjunctive or indicative, depending on the context. The phrase can appear at the start of a sentence or within it, and in some cases the following clause is introduced with que, though it is not always required.

In practice, digamos serves several functions. It helps soften assertions, proposes an example, or sets up a hypothetical scenario. For example: “Digamos que hay una rebaja del 10%” or “Digamos, por ejemplo, que el mercado se recorta.” It is common in both spoken and written Spanish and can also be used parenthetically to hedge a statement, as in “El plan, digamos, necesita ajustes.”

Related expressions include supongamos, pongamos que, o a modo de ejemplo, which convey similar notions of hypothetical introduction. While digamos is versatile, its primary role remains to introduce a hypothetical or illustrative frame, making statements more tentative or clearer in the context of a discussion.