dire
tell
In French, 'dire' translates to 'tell' in English. It is most commonly used as a verb in context to impart information or to express something in words. Depending on the sentence, 'dire' could also be iterated in other forms such as 'dit' - said, 'dire' - to say, etc. From a grammar aspect, 'dire' can be used with a direct object or followed by 'that' ('que') similar to English 'tell that'.
Example sentences using: dire
Je ne sais pas quoi dire.
I do not know what to say.
In this sentence, 'dire' signifies the capacity to express, or to formulate a response to something.
Je vais lui dire bonjour.
I am going to say hello to him.
This sentence uses the future tense to express an intention to greet someone. 'Dire' which means 'to say' is used in the context of conveying a greeting.
Tu dois me dire la vérité.
You have to tell me the truth.
This sentence uses 'dire' in the context of expressing a necessity or obligation to confess or reveal the truth.
Elle ne cesse de le dire.
She can't stop saying it.
Here, 'dire' is used in its infinitive form to express continuous action, translating as 'saying' in English.
Peux-tu dire ça en anglais?
Can you say that in English?
The word 'dire' is used in this question, where the speaker is asking if the listener can express something in a different language.
C'est difficile à dire.
It's hard to say.
Used in a metaphorical sense, 'dire' here refers to the difficulty of giving an opinion or judgement about something.
Je regrette de dire cela.
I regret saying this.
In this sentence, 'dire' is used in its infinitive form after 'de', expressing regret about something the speaker has said.
On m'a dit de venir ici.
I was told to come here.
The past participle form 'dit' is used in this passive sentence, translating as 'told' in the English translation.
J'aimerais vous dire quelque chose.
I would like to tell you something.
In this polite declaration, 'dire' is used to express the desire of the speaker to convey some information to the listener.
Que veux-tu dire par là?
What do you mean by that?
In this sentence, 'dire' is used in a question to clarify the intended meaning of a previous statement by the listener. This points to the extensive use of 'dire' in questions for clarification.