puedes decir
/pwedes deθiɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "can you say" translates to Spanish as puedes decir.
This phrase is used to ask if someone has the ability to utter or express a specific word or phrase. While it typically asks about a person's physical or mental capacity to speak, it can also be used in certain contexts to ask for permission or to inquire about a possibility.
How does it change in a sentence?
Spanish uses different forms of the verb to indicate number and tense. Use puede decir for a single person in a formal context and pueden decir when asking a group of people if they can say something. To refer to a specific instance of being able to say something in the past, use the preterite form pude decir.
Did you know?
- While puedes decir asks if you can utter a word, Spanish speakers use the verb decir to report the time, such as ¿Qué hora dice tu reloj?, which literally asks what your watch 'says'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if someone asks ¿Puedes decir…? in a flirtatious context, it may be a prompt to say something romantic or 'sweet' rather than a question of linguistic ability.
- The verb decir comes from a root meaning 'to show' or 'to point out'. In ancient times, speaking was seen as a way of pointing something out to another person.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué más puedes decir?What more can you say?This sentence shows how to use puedes decir to ask what else a person can say.Tatoeba #5022753 by don_ramon, translation #5018165 by CK
- ¿Puedes decir eso otra vez?Can you say that again?This sentence uses puedes decir to ask someone to repeat something.Tatoeba #4930575 by BoriQa, translation #680109 by Source_VOA
- ¡Cómo puedes decir algo así!How can you say such a thing!?This sentence uses puedes decir to express shock at how someone said something.Tatoeba #9998970 by Shishir, translation #11243921 by Luornu
- ¿Puede decirme dónde se encuentra la estación de tren?Can you tell me where the train station is?
- ¿Puedes decirme qué película quieres ver?Can you tell me which movie you want to watch?
- ¿Me decís cómo llego a la plaza?Can you tell me how to get to the square?
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía is teaching Javier a new word in Spanish.
- Lucía¿Puedes decir 'biblioteca' lentamente?Can you say 'library' slowly?
- JavierSí, puedo decirla ahora mismo.Yes, I can say it right now.
- LucíaMuy bien, Javier. Lo hiciste perfecto.Very good, Javier. You did it perfectly.
- JavierGracias, Lucía. Es una palabra difícil.Thanks, Lucía. It is a difficult word.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries decir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
