sagen

Sagen is a German verb meaning to say, to tell, or to state. It is used to convey spoken content, information, or opinions, and appears in direct speech as well as in reported or indirect speech. The verb is common in everyday and formal language and can expresspermission, denial, preference, or assertion, depending on context.

Grammar and usage: Sagen is a regular verb in its conjugation. In the present tense it forms as ich sage, du sagst, er/sie/es sagt, wir sagen, ihr sagt, sie/Sie sagen. The past tense is sagte, and the past participle is gesagt. It takes a direct object when naming what is said, for example: Ich sage die Wahrheit. It can also take an indirect object to indicate to whom something is said: Ich sage dir die Wahrheit. Sagen can introduce indirect speech with dass or with subordinate clauses using Konjunktiv I for reported statements: Er sagte, er komme morgen. In spoken German, Konjunktiv II is sometimes used for softening statements or hypothetical reporting.

Nuance and related forms: Sagen often emphasizes the content of what is spoken, rather than the act of speaking itself, which is more typical of reden. Erzählen is used for telling a story or giving a detailed account, while behaupten means to claim or assert something. The phrase etwas sagen can also mean to be meaningful or significant: Das sagt mir etwas. Sagen exists alongside a noun with the same spelling, Sage, meaning a legend or traditional tale (plural Sagen).

Etymology and context: Sagen traces to Old High German sagān/sagēn and is cognate with English say. It remains one of the most frequently used German verbs and is essential for everyday communication and written language.