sagen
/zaːɡən/
The English phrase 'to say' translates to the German word sagen.
sagen means 'to say'. You can combine it with modal verbs to express different abilities or intentions, such as sagen können (to be able to say), sagen wollen (to want to say) or sagen müssen (to have to say).
Which one should you use?
While sagen means 'to say' (to utter words), it is distinct from sprechen, which means 'to speak' (the act of using a language or the ability to talk).
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present form of sagen is sagt (says / is saying). The simple past form is sagte (said), and the past participle is gesagt (said).
How do you pronounce it?
/zaːɡən/
Did you know?
- When a German speaker says das sagt sich von selbst, they are not talking about a person speaking, but stating that something 'goes without saying'.
- German speakers use the phrase das sage ich dir not just to convey information, but as a strong way to emphasize a warning or a promise to someone.
- In some German dialects, such as Bavarian, the word sagen shifts its sound to become sogn.
Examples in context
- Ich möchte etwas dazu sagen.I would like to say something about it.
- Was willst du dazu sagen?What do you want to say about it?
- Ich kann nichts dazu sagen.I can't say anything about it.
- Er wollte etwas Interessantes sagen.He wanted to say something interesting.
- Was hast du gesagt?What did you say?
- Kannst du mir das bitte sagen?Can you please tell me that?
- Ich muss es dir ehrlich sagen.I have to tell it to you honestly.
- Was wollen die Leute sagen?What do the people want to say?
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are discussing a secret.
- HannahKannst du mir bitte die Wahrheit sagen?Can you please tell me the truth?
- LukasIch kann es jetzt nicht sagen.I cannot say it right now.
- HannahWarum willst du es nicht sagen?Why don't you want to say it?
- LukasEs ist zu kompliziert, Hannah.It is too complicated, Hannah.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sagen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
