« Dire » is one of the most common French verbs, and one of the richest. Depending on context, it can mean to pronounce, to mean, to order, to seem, or even “according to”. Here is its etymology, its main meanings and the expressions to know to truly master this verb.
In short
- « Dire » comes from the Latin « dīcere » (to say, to speak).
- Depending on context it means to pronounce, to mean, to order, to seem, and more.
- Many everyday expressions use it: « à vrai dire », « cela va sans dire », « le qu’en-dira-t-on ».
- It produced a family of words: dicton, dictionnaire, prédire, contredire.
- Mastering these uses is a real sign of fluency in French.
The etymology of « dire »
The verb « dire » comes from the Latin « dīcere », meaning to say or to speak. In Old French it became « dire » and kept this core meaning while broadening its uses over the centuries. Understanding this origin helps you see why « dire » appears in so many expressions today.
The meanings of the verb « dire »
Depending on context, « dire » can be the equivalent of to pronounce, to mean, to reveal, to indicate, to communicate, to express, to assert or to add. Here are fifteen uses, each with an example. The French examples stay in French.
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L’acteur a dit son texte clairement | To utter, to pronounce |
| Tenez-vous le pour dit | To decide, to agree on something |
| Le qu’en-dira-t-on | What the neighbours, others will say |
| On dirait qu’il pleut | It seems |
| Je me suis laissé dire que tu travaillais | I heard that |
| J’ai dit à Paul de sortir | I ordered him to leave |
| Cela ne se dit pas ! | It is not appropriate |
| La loi dit que… | The law states |
| Pour ainsi dire | More or less, so to speak |
| Cela ne me dit rien | It does not appeal to me |
| Se le faire dire | To hesitate a great deal to do something |
| C’est dire ! | That shows how much |
| Au dire de, selon les dires de… | According to |
| Qu’est-ce à dire ? | What does that mean? |
| Comme qui dirait | (informal) A sort of |
Other expressions with « dire »
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| À vrai dire / À dire vrai | To speak sincerely, to be honest |
| Cela va sans dire | It goes without saying, it is obvious |
| Dire amen | To agree without arguing |
| Trouver à redire | To find something to criticise |
| Ce qui est dit est dit | A promise made will be kept |
Try this: do not learn these expressions out of context. Pick two or three a week and use them in a spoken sentence. You will remember them far better.
Words from the same family as « dire »
The Latin root « dīcere » produced a whole family of words in French.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Un dicton | A popular saying, a proverb |
| Un dictionnaire | A dictionary |
| Prédire | To predict, to foretell |
| Contredire | To contradict, to speak against |
Take it further out loud
« Dire » is everywhere in spoken French. To handle these expressions well, nothing beats practice. With a native French teacher, work on your speaking in online lessons over Zoom. You can start with a free trial lesson with an assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the verb « dire » come from?
From the Latin « dīcere », meaning to say or to speak. It gave « dire » in Old French and a family of words like dicton, dictionnaire, prédire and contredire.
What are the main meanings of « dire »?
Depending on context, « dire » can mean to pronounce, to mean, to order, to seem, to indicate or to assert.
What does « le qu’en-dira-t-on » mean?
It is the worry about what others will think or say about us.
What does « à vrai dire » mean?
It is a way to introduce a sincere remark, the equivalent of “to be honest”.
How can I memorise expressions with « dire »?
Learn a few at a time and reuse them out loud in real sentences, ideally with a teacher.
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