zice
/ˈzi.t͡ʃe/
The English verb 'say' can be translated into Romanian as zice or spune.
Meaning: to communicate verbally or in writing (verb)
Ways to say it
| Romanian | IPA |
|---|---|
| zice | /ˈzi.t͡ʃe/ |
| spune | /ˈspu.ne/ |
Both words mean to communicate verbally or in writing. When you are expressing the act of stating a specific fact or piece of information, spune is the more natural choice.
Which one should you use?
While both mean 'to say' or 'to tell', zice is more colloquial and is often used in spoken language.
How does it change in a sentence?
This results in a zis (from zice) and a spus (from spune). The past participle of zice is zis, and the past participle of spune is spus.
How do you pronounce it?
The word zice is pronounced /ˈzi.tʃe/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- In very informal Romanian, you might hear people use zice almost like a filler word, similar to how English speakers use 'like' when recounting a story.
- While zice means 'to say', it shares a common ancestor with the English word 'dictate', as both stem from the Latin 'dicere'.
- In colloquial Romanian, people often use zice to express a belief or a feeling, similar to how an English speaker uses 'I reckon'.
Examples in context
- Nu voi spune asta.I'm not going to say that.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of spune in a negative future context.Tatoeba #7578331 by CataG, translation #2544720 by CK
- Tom nu va spune da.Tom won't say yes.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of spune regarding a specific answer.Tatoeba #11512274 by ridisegnandone, translation #3402526 by CK
- Nu vom spune nimic.We won't say anything.Tatoeba #13603698 by Ioana_Dobre, translation #10142230 by samir_t
- El a spus că este ocupat.He said he is busy.
- A declarat că este nevinovat.He declared that he is innocent.
- Vreau să menționez că a fost o bună colaborare.I want to mention that it was a good collaboration.
- Nu mi-a zis nimic despre asta.He didn't say anything about it to me.
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andreea and Gabriel are talking about a secret.
- AndreeaCe zice mama despre vacanță?What does mom say about the vacation?
- GabrielNu zice nimic deocamdată.She doesn't say anything for now.
- AndreeaGabriel, zice că e prea scump.Gabriel, she says it's too expensive.
- GabrielAșa zice ea mereu.That's what she always says.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “say” translations and entries zice, spune, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries spune, zice, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
