Meanings
say1
present singular third person says · participle present saying · participle past said · past said · first person past singular said · archaic present second person singular sayest · past second person singular said · archaic past second person singular saidst · present singular third person says · archaic present singular third person sayeth · archaic present singular third person saith · past singular third person said · past plural said · past subjunctive said · participle present saying · participle past said
- transitiveTo recite.
Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?
1 more example
Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VIII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, pages 53-54 - transitiveTo tell, either verbally or in writing.
He said he would be here tomorrow.
5 more examples
The note I think he said she wrote is nowhere to be found.
No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.
1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC‘All right,’ said Jessamy. ‘I say, Miss Brindle said she’d think about you coming to see the house some time. I said I was sure you weren’t the stone throwing kind, not at windows, I mean.’
1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 95I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. — It’s okay, Anna.
2016, VOA Learning English (public domain) - transitiveTo indicate in a written form.
What time does it say on the clock?
1 more example
The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
- impersonaltransitiveTo have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.
They say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", which means "behave as those around you do."
3 more examples
They say that Hope is happiness; But genuine Love must prize the past.
1815, George Gordon Byron, “They say that Hope is happiness”, in The Hebrew MelodiesIt is said, a bargain cannot be set aside upon inadequacy only.
1819, Great Britain Court of Chancery, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the High Court of Chancery, page 8It’s said that fifteen wagon loads of ready-made clothes for the Virginia troops came to, and stay in, town to-night.
1841, Christopher Marshall, The Knickerbocker (New-York Monthly Magazine), page 379 - imperativeinformaltransitiveSuppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis.
Say he refuses. What do we do then?
3 more examples
A holiday somewhere warm – Florida, say – would be nice.
Say your family is starving and you don't have any money, is it okay to steal some food?
I've followed Selina down the strip, when we're shopping, say, and she strolls on ahead, wearing sawn-off jeans and a wash-withered T-shirt[…]
1984, Martin Amis, Money: a suicide note - intransitiveTo speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge
c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 1951 more example
To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?
1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 63
plural says · alternative obsolete saie · alternative obsolete saye · alternative obsolete seye · alternative pronunciation spelling thay · alternative pronunciation spelling zay
- uncountableusuallyA chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.
The local government did not have much say in the matter.
4 more examples
Above all, however, we would like to think that there is more to be decided, after the engines and after the humans have had their says.
2004, Richard Rogers, Information politics on the WebHe has consolidated the military's role in politics through an army-drafted 2017 constitution widely seen as designed to prevent Pheu Thai from returning to power and ensuring a continuing say for the army.
2019 February 8, Kocha Olarn, Helen Regan, “This princess could be the next prime minister of Thailand”, in CNN International Edition, Cable News Network, retrieved 08 Feb 2019Sunday’s general election has been cast as a high-stakes contest between democracy and military rule, but critics say a new army-backed constitution gives junta-appointed officials a large say in the next government.
2019 March 22, Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Panarat Thepgumpanat, “Junta chief croons, ousted PM says 'we will win' in Thai election battle”, in Reuters, Reuters, retrieved 23 Mar 2019The City Council will be the final stop for the data center and the final say on whether the project will move forward in Colorado Springs.
2026 August 11, Brennen Kauffman, “Colorado Springs City Council sets special meeting for Project Taurus data center decision”, in The Gazette, archived from the original on 12 Aug 2026
alternative obsolete saie · alternative obsolete saye · alternative obsolete seye · alternative pronunciation spelling thay · alternative pronunciation spelling zay
- not comparableFor example; let us assume.
Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach.
2 more examples
He was driving pretty fast, say, fifty miles per hour.
He was a very old man, and was heavy, say about 250 pounds.
1894, T Miller, “Chapter 1”, in Over Five Seas and Oceans, From New York to Bangkok, Siam, and Return, New York: Albert Metz & Co., page 13
alternative obsolete saie · alternative obsolete saye · alternative obsolete seye · alternative pronunciation spelling thay · alternative pronunciation spelling zay
- UScolloquialUsed to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion
Say, what did you think about the movie?
Synonyms: hey
say2
plural says
- countableuncountableA type of fine cloth similar to serge.
All in a kirtle of diſcolourd ſay / He clothed was […]
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 531 more example
Per.[igot] VVell decked in a frocke of gray, / Will.[y] hey ho, gray is greet, / Per. And in a kirtle of greene ſaye, / Will. the greene is for maydens meete.
1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “August. Ægloga Octaua.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], →OCLC, folio 32, recto
say3
present singular third person says · participle present saying · participle past sayed · past sayed
- To try; to assay.
I, that had sayed on one of his customers sutes.
1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i
plural says
- Trial by sample; assay; specimen.
Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes.
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 3081 more example
If those principal works of God […] be but certain tastes and says, as if were, of that final benefit.
, page 193 - Essay; trial; attempt.
This fellow, Captaine, Will come, in time, to be a great distiller, And giue a say[…]at the philosophers stone.
1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)
say4
Say5
- A surname.
Synonyms & antonyms
interjectionUsed to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion
More synonyms by meaning
verbgive instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
verbspeak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
say · verb, noun, adverb, interjection
- Proto-Indo-European*sekʷ-
- Proto-Indo-European*sokʷ-éye-ti
- Proto-Indo-European*sokʷ-h₁-yé-ti
- Proto-Germanic*sagjaną
- Proto-West Germanic*saggjan
- Old Englishseċġan
- Middle Englishseien
- Englishsay
From Middle English saien, sain, san, secgan, segen, seien, sein, seiȝen, sugen, sægen, ziggen, from Old English seċġan, secgean, secggan, secggean, seggan, sæċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to say”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie (“to say”), West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Alemannic German ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä (“to say”), Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say, tell”), Luxembourgish soen (“to say”), Vilamovian ziöen, zuön, zuø̄n (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Elfdalian saja (“to say”), Faroese siga (“to say”), Icelandic segja (“to say”), Jamtish segi (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk segja, seia, seie (“to say, tell”), Scanian siğa (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”); also Cornish hwedhel (“narrative, story, tale”), Irish scéal (“story, tale”), Manx skeeal (“story; news; narrative”), Scottish Gaelic sgeul (“story, tale; information, news”), Welsh chwedl (“story, tale”), hebu (“to say”), Latin inquam (“to say”), Ancient Greek ἐνέπω (enépō), ἐννέπω (ennépō, “tell or tell about; speak”), Latvian sacīt (“to say, tell”), Lithuanian sakyti (“to say, tell”), Bulgarian соча (soča, “to indicate; to point”), Czech sočit (“to blame, hate”), Old Polish soczyć (“to accuse, slander”), Russian сочи́ть (sočítʹ, “to emit (a liquid)”), Ukrainian сочи́ти (sočýty, “to emit (a liquid), exude, ooze; to drain, sap”). The adverb and interjection are from the verb.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →say · noun
- Latinsaga
- Middle Frenchsaie
- Englishsay
From Middle French saie, from Latin saga, plural of sagum (“military cloak”).
More words from Middle French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans sê
- sêto pronounce
Ancient Greek λέγω, φημί
- λέγω (légō)to pronounce
- φημί (phēmí)to pronounce
- λέγω (légō)to say, to tell
- λέγω (légō)to communicate verbally or in writing
- εἴρω (eírō)to communicate verbally or in writing
- εἶπον (eîpon)to communicate verbally or in writing
- φήμι (phḗmi)to communicate verbally or in writing
Arabic قَالَ, قال
- قَالَ (qāla)to pronounce
- قال (ʔāl)to pronounce
- قَال (gāl)to pronounce
- قال (qāl)to pronounce
- حكى (ḥaka)to pronounce
- حكى (ḥaka)to pronounce
- يَتْلُو (yatlū)to recite
- قَالَ (qāla)to say, to tell
- قَالَ (qāla)to communicate verbally or in writing
- يَقُول (yaqūl)to communicate verbally or in writing
Basque esan
- esanto pronounce
Bengali বলা
- বলা (bola)to pronounce
Bulgarian ка́звам, ка́жа
- ка́звам (kázvam)to pronounce
- ка́жа (káža)to pronounce
- деклами́рам (deklamíram)to recite
- рецити́рам (recitíram)to recite
- изрецити́рам (izrecitíram)to recite
- ка́звам (kázvam)to say, to tell
- ка́жа (káža)to say, to tell
- гово́ря (govórja)to communicate verbally or in writing
- да ка́жем (da kážem)imperative: let's say
- ду́ма (dúma)chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
Catalan dir, recitar
- dirto pronounce
- recitarto recite
- declamarto recite
- dirto say, to tell
- dirto communicate verbally or in writing
- dirto indicate in a written form
Chinese 講 /讲, 說 /说
- 講 /讲 (kóng)to pronounce
- 說 /说 (seh)to pronounce
Chinese Cantonese 講 /讲
- 講 /讲 (gong²)to pronounce
Chinese Mandarin 說 /说, 告訴 /告诉
- 說 /说 (shuō)to pronounce
- 告訴 /告诉 (gàosu)to pronounce
- 說 /说 (shuō)to say, to tell
- 說 /说 (shuō)to communicate verbally or in writing
- 告訴 /告诉 (gàosu)to communicate verbally or in writing
Czech říkat, říct
- říkatto pronounce
- říctto pronounce
- povědětto pronounce
- říkatto say, to tell
- říctto say, to tell
- říctto communicate verbally or in writing
- říctto indicate in a written form
Danish sige, sige
- sigeto pronounce
- sigeto communicate verbally or in writing
- fortælleto communicate verbally or in writing
- fortælleto indicate in a written form
Dari گُفْتَن
- گُفْتَن (guftan)to pronounce
Dutch zeggen, luiden
- zeggento pronounce
- luidento pronounce
- opzeggento pronounce
- opzeggento recite
- zeggento say, to tell
- zeggento communicate verbally or in writing
- opgevento communicate verbally or in writing
- staanto indicate in a written form
- opgevento indicate in a written form
- laten wij zeggenimperative: let's say
- zeggenschapchance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- zegjechance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- zeg maarTranslations
- zeg eensTranslations
Esperanto diri, elparoli
- dirito pronounce
- elparolito pronounce
- prononcito pronounce
- deklamito recite
- dirito say, to tell
- dirito communicate verbally or in writing
- ni diruimperative: let's say
Estonian ütlema
- ütlemato pronounce
Finnish sanoa, kertoa
- sanoato pronounce
- kertoato pronounce
- lausuato recite
- kertoato say, to tell
- sanoato say, to tell
- olla ettäto say, to tell
- sanoato communicate verbally or in writing
- virkkaato communicate verbally or in writing
- näyttääto indicate in a written form
- sanoato have a common expression
- sanotaanimperative: let's say
- oletetaanimperative: let's say
- sananvaltachance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
French dire, dire
- direto pronounce
- direto recite
- réciterto recite
- direto say, to tell
- direto communicate verbally or in writing
- indiquerto indicate in a written form
- direto indicate in a written form
- il paraîtto have a common expression
- on ditto have a common expression
- disonsimperative: let's say
- mot à direchance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
German sagen, säge
- sagento pronounce
- sägeto pronounce
- sagento recite
- verrichtento recite
- sagento say, to tell
- erzählento say, to tell
- sagento communicate verbally or in writing
- lautto indicate in a written form
- es heißtto have a common expression
- man sagtto have a common expression
- sagen wirimperative: let's say
- Mitsprachechance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- Mitspracherechtchance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- sagen wirTranslations
Greek λέγω, λέγω
- λέγω (légo)to say, to tell
- λέγω (légo)to communicate verbally or in writing
Hebrew אָמַר, אָמַר
- אָמַר (amár)to pronounce
- אָמַר (amár)to say, to tell
- אמר (amár)to communicate verbally or in writing
- נגיד (nagíd)imperative: let's say
- תגיד (tagíd)Translations
- תגידי (tagídi)Translations
Hindi कहना, कहना
- कहना (kahnā)to pronounce
- कहना (kahnā)to say, to tell
- कहते हैं (kahte ha͠i)Translations
- कहता हूँ (kahtā hū̃)Translations
- कहती हूँ (kahtī hū̃)Translations
Hungarian mond, mond
- mondto pronounce
- mondto say, to tell
- beleszóláschance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- mondjukTranslations
Icelandic segja, segja
- segjato pronounce
- segjato communicate verbally or in writing
Indonesian berkata, bicara
- berkatato pronounce
- bicarato pronounce
- berkatato say, to tell
- bilangto say, to tell
Iranian Persian گُفْتَن
- گُفْتَن (goftan)to pronounce
Irish abair, abair
- abairto pronounce
- abairto recite
- abairto communicate verbally or in writing
- abairto indicate in a written form
- abairTranslations
Italian dire, recitare
- direto pronounce
- recitareto recite
- direto say, to tell
- direto communicate verbally or in writing
- direto indicate in a written form
- si diceto have a common expression
- diciamoimperative: let's say
Japanese 言う, 語る
- 言う (iu)to pronounce
- 語る (kataru)to pronounce
- おっしゃる (ossharu)to pronounce
- 申す (mōsu)to pronounce
- 申し上げる (mōshi-ageru)to pronounce
- 暗唱する (anshō suru)to recite
- 言うto say, to tell
- おっしゃる (ossharu)to say, to tell
- 申す (mōsu)to say, to tell
- 申し上げる (mōshiageru)to say, to tell
- 言う (iu)to communicate verbally or in writing
- 語る (kataru)to communicate verbally or in writing
Korean 말하다, 말씀하다
- 말하다 (malhada)to pronounce
- 말씀하다 (malsseumhada)to pronounce
- 암송하다 (amsonghada)to recite
- 말하다 (malhada)to say, to tell
- 말씀하다 (malsseumhada)to say, to tell
- 대 (dae)to have a common expression
- 답니다 (damnida)to have a common expression
Latin dico, loquor
- dicoto pronounce
- loquorto pronounce
- proloquorto pronounce
- forto pronounce
- aioto pronounce
- inquamto pronounce
- inquamto recite
- dicoto recite
- forto recite
- loquorto recite
- fabulorto recite
- dicoto communicate verbally or in writing
Latvian sacīt, teikt
- sacītto pronounce
- teiktto pronounce
- teiktto communicate verbally or in writing
Lithuanian sakyti, sakyti
- sakytito pronounce
- sakytito communicate verbally or in writing
- sakomato have a common expression
- tarkimimperative: let's say
Malay kata, cakap
- katato pronounce
- cakapto pronounce
- bilangto say, to tell
- cakapto say, to tell
- katato say, to tell
Māori korokī
- korokīto say, to tell
Norwegian Bokmål si, uttale
- sito pronounce
- uttaleto pronounce
- resitereto recite
- forretteto recite
- fortelleto say, to tell
- sito communicate verbally or in writing
- sito indicate in a written form
- opplyseto indicate in a written form
- fortelle omto indicate in a written form
- viseto indicate in a written form
- sito have a common expression
- det siesto have a common expression
Polish mówić, powiadać
- mówićto pronounce
- powiadaćto pronounce
- powiedziećto pronounce
- wymawiaćto pronounce
- rzecto pronounce
- powiadaćto say, to tell
- powiedziećto say, to tell
- mówićto communicate verbally or in writing
- głoschance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- dajmy na toTranslations
- bodajTranslations
Portuguese dizer, falar
- dizerto pronounce
- falarto pronounce
- recitarto recite
- dizerto say, to tell
- direto say, to tell
- dizerto communicate verbally or in writing
- falarto communicate verbally or in writing
- dizerto indicate in a written form
- diz-seto have a common expression
- dizemto have a common expression
- suponhamosimperative: let's say
- digamosimperative: let's say
Punjabi ਕਹਿਣਾ
- ਕਹਿਣਾ (kahiṇā)to pronounce
Romanian zice, spune
- ziceto pronounce
- spuneto pronounce
- spuneto say, to tell
- ziceto say, to tell
- ziceto communicate verbally or in writing
- spuneto communicate verbally or in writing
Russian говори́ть, сказа́ть
- говори́ть (govorítʹ)to pronounce
- сказа́ть (skazátʹ)to pronounce
- говори́ть (govorítʹ)to say, to tell
- сказа́ть (skazátʹ)to say, to tell
- говори́ть (govorítʹ)to communicate verbally or in writing
- сказа́ть (skazátʹ)to communicate verbally or in writing
- сообща́ть (soobščátʹ)to communicate verbally or in writing
- сообщи́ть (soobščítʹ)to communicate verbally or in writing
- гласи́ть (glasítʹ)to indicate in a written form
- ска́жем (skážem)imperative: let's say
- го́лос (gólos)chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- пра́во го́лоса (právo gólosa)chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide
- скажем (skažem)Translations
Scottish Gaelic abair, can
- abairto pronounce
- canto pronounce
Slovak hovoriť, povedať
- hovoriťto pronounce
- povedaťto pronounce
- hovoriťto say, to tell
- povedaťto say, to tell
- hovoriťto communicate verbally or in writing
- povedaťto communicate verbally or in writing
- hovoriťto indicate in a written form
- povedaťto indicate in a written form
- hovorí sato have a common expression
- povie sato have a common expression
- povedzmeimperative: let's say
Spanish decir, decir
- decirto pronounce
- decirto say, to tell
- decirto communicate verbally or in writing
- decirto indicate in a written form
- ponerto indicate in a written form
- se diceto have a common expression
- digamosimperative: let's say
- digamosTranslations
- dígameTranslations
Swahili kuambia
- kuambiato say, to tell
Swedish säga, stå
- sägato pronounce
- ståto indicate in a written form
- poneraimperative: let's say
- låt oss sägaimperative: let's say
- låt sägaimperative: let's say
- sägTranslations
Tagalog sabihin, magsabi
- sabihinto pronounce
- magsabito pronounce
Tamil சொல், என்
- சொல் (col)to pronounce
- என் (eṉ)to say, to tell
- சொல் (col)to say, to tell
- கூறு (kūṟu)to say, to tell
Thai กล่าว, พูด
- กล่าว (glàao)to pronounce
- พูด (pûut)to pronounce
Turkish söylemek, demek
- söylemekto pronounce
- demekto pronounce
- söylemekto recite
- okumakto recite
- söylemekto say, to tell
- demekto say, to tell
- demekto communicate verbally or in writing
- söylemekto communicate verbally or in writing
- söylemekto indicate in a written form
- demekto indicate in a written form
- yazmakto indicate in a written form
- diyelimimperative: let's say
- nasıl desemTranslations
- atıyorumTranslations
Ukrainian говори́ти, каза́ти
- говори́ти (hovorýty)to pronounce
- каза́ти (kazáty)to pronounce
- сказа́ти (skazáty)to pronounce
- каза́ти (kazáty)to say, to tell
- говори́ти (hovorýty)to say, to tell
Urdu کَہْنا, بولنا
- کَہْنا (kahnā)to pronounce
- بولنا (bolnā)to say, to tell
- کہنا (kahnā)to say, to tell
- فرمانا (farmānā)to say, to tell
Vietnamese nói, đọc
- nóito pronounce
- đọcto recite
- nóito say, to tell
Welsh dweud, dweud
- dweudto pronounce
- dweudto communicate verbally or in writing
- meddto communicate verbally or in writing
Yiddish זאָגן, זאָגן
- זאָגן (zogn)to pronounce
- זאָגן (zogn)to recite
- זאָגן (zogn)to communicate verbally or in writing
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with say
All rhymes →Cite this entry
say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/say
“say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/say. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “say,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/say.
Source: say on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.