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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

say en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable) For example; let us assume.
    • Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach.
    • 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:
    • He was driving pretty fast, say, fifty miles per hour.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
saye alternative, obsolete lexicographic
zay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
seye alternative, obsolete lexicographic
thay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
saie alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Translations (14)

sv säg (Translations) · es digamos (Translations) · nl zeg maar (Translations) · pl dajmy na to (Translations) · ru скажем (Translations) · hu mondjuk (Translations) · pl bodaj (Translations) · kmr bibêjin (Translations) · ga abair (Translations) · sdh بۊشیم (Translations) · ckb بڵێین (Translations) · tr atıyorum (Translations) · de sagen wir (Translations) · tr nasıl desem (Translations)

say en · INTJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

  1. (US, colloquial) Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion
    • Say, what did you think about the movie?

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
saie alternative, obsolete lexicographic
seye alternative, obsolete lexicographic
zay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
thay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
saye alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Synonyms

hey (used to gain attention)

Translations (7)

hi कहती हूँ (Translations) · nl zeg eens (Translations) · he תגיד (Translations) · hi कहते हैं (Translations) · hi कहता हूँ (Translations) · he תגידי (Translations) · es dígame (Translations)

Source: en.wiktionary, “say” (intj), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

say en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable, usually) A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.
    • He 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 2019:
    • Sunday’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 2019:
    • 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 Web:
    • The 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:
    • The local government did not have much say in the matter.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
seye alternative, obsolete lexicographic
saie alternative, obsolete lexicographic
thay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
says Number=Plur lexicographic
zay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
saye alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Translations (11)

de Mitsprache (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · nl zegje (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · fi sananvalta (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · bg ду́ма (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · nl zeggenschap (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · hu beleszólás (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · pl głos (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · fr mot à dire (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · de Mitspracherecht (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · ru го́лос (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide) · ru пра́во го́лоса (chance to speak; right or power to influence or decide)

Source: en.wiktionary, “say” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

say en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To pronounce.
    • Please say your name slowly and clearly.
  2. (transitive) To recite.
    • Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?
    • 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:
  3. (transitive) To tell, either verbally or in writing.
    • ‘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 95:
    • He said he would be here tomorrow.
    • The note I think he said she wrote is nowhere to be found.
    • I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. — It’s okay, Anna. 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
    • She 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:
    • 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 46:
  4. (transitive) To indicate in a written form.
    • The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
    • What time does it say on the clock?
  5. (impersonal, transitive) To have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.
    • It 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 8:
    • They say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", which means "behave as those around you do."
    • 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 Melodies:
    • It’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:
  6. (imperative, informal, transitive) Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis.
    • Say he refuses. What do we do then?
    • 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:
    • 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?
  7. (intransitive) To 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 195:
    • 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:
  8. (especially, informal, of a possession, transitive) To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to express belief in an outcome by the speaker.
    • 'My fifty pounds says three months after the invasion there'll be a free press in Iraq, and unmonitored internet access too.' 2005, Ian McEwan, Saturday, page 192:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
say Number=Plur, Tense=Pres lexicographic
say VerbForm=Inf lexicographic
say Mood=Sub, Tense=Pres lexicographic
say Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Pres lexicographic
say Mood=Imp, Tense=Pres lexicographic
say Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres lexicographic
sayest Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic
zay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
saie alternative, obsolete lexicographic
says Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
saying Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
said Number=Plur, Tense=Past lexicographic
said Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Past lexicographic
said Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past lexicographic
said Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
said Mood=Sub, Tense=Past lexicographic
said Number=Sing, Person=1, Tense=Past lexicographic
said Tense=Past lexicographic
seye alternative, obsolete lexicographic
sayeth Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic
thay alternative, pronunciation-spelling lexicographic
saith Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres archaic lexicographic
saidst Number=Sing, Person=2, Tense=Past archaic lexicographic
saye alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Antonyms

sign · signal · write

Deriveds

say one's piece · say that · you know what they say · which is to say · say it ain't so · say what you like · they say · as who should say · soothsay · you know what I'm saying · the dickens you say · what say you · saith · besay · endsay · sufficed to say · though I say it who should not say it · that's saying something · if I say so myself · say hello to my little friend · that is to say · or should I say · you hear what I'm saying · gainsay · wouldn't you say · you've said a mouthful · suffice to say · sayer · dare-saying · say what you want · say on pay · say none · say the quiet part out loud · enough said · say aah · say-so · say again · how you say · dessay · you don't say · before you can say Jack Robinson · before you can say knife · easy for you to say · missay · doomsaying · need I say more · I'll say · sayeth · say one's prayers · say someone's prayers · don't say gay · can we say · those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it · say boo · do you know what I'm saying · I must say · the hell you say · please say that again · say that again · againsay · let's say · just saying · say no more · go without saying · final say · it doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right · I say · dare say · that's what he said · say what · how do you say … in English · say uncle · hear what I'm saying · and so say all of us · what do you say · say the word · say hello · if I do say so myself · say grace · never say die · not saying much · say what you will · you can say that again · the deuce you say · as I was saying · say you swear · there isn't any easy way to say this · as they say · shall I say · how say you · what say · nay-say · say the quiet part loud · oversay · you can't say fairer than that · yea-say · forsay · you said a mouthful · what you saying · naysay · say bo to a goose · said no one ever · it's not what you say but how you say it · say nothing · whatever you say · true say · know what I'm saying · so they say · say when · resay · let's not and say we did · look-say · what can I say · though I say so myself · to say the least · strange to say · naysayer · if I may say so · unsay · it is said · just say no · sad to say · if you say so · foresay · so to say · not to say · you were saying · say goodbye · have to say for oneself · shall we say · say boo to a goose · it goes without saying · say yes · I hear you say · said the thing · if you don't mind me saying · say it all · if you see something, say something · needless to say · suffice it to say · I said what I said · sayable · as the saying goes · say no · undersay · sayee · have a say · to say nothing of · say cheese · yeasay · whaddayasay · I'd say · never-say-die · daresay · never say never · say wha · say less · though I say it who should not · dare-say · sayability · say la vee · yeasayer · mean to say · say word one · the devil you say · say to oneself · there is much to be said · saying · withsay · do as I say and not as I do

Hypernyms

communicate · talk · express

Hyponyms

rumor · orate · rehearse · answer · deliver · reply · add · announce · criticize · render · profer · declare · quote · echo · recite · mention · missay · drone · instruct · ramble · enounce · argue · indicate · chant · inform · restate · signify · repeat · whisper · shout · question · disclose · complain · allege · respond · divulge · reiterate · maintain · convey · assert · judge · imply · reveal · exclaim · guess · sing · prescribe · decree · avow · scoff · conjecture · pronounce · relate · remark · affirm · describe · hiss · specify · claim · spiel · explain · suggest · estimate

Relateds

hearsay · say again

Synonyms

dictate · tell · speak · utter · yak · blather · report · voice · gab · say · state · verbalize

Translations (583)

ar قَالَ (to pronounce) · gv abbyr (to recite) · lt tarkim (imperative: let's say) · kmr gotin (to communicate verbally or in writing) · de man sagt (to have a common expression) · pt dizer (to indicate in a written form) · fr dire (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ja 申す (to pronounce) · te చెప్పు (to say, to tell) · it dire (to communicate verbally or in writing) · mk кажува (to pronounce) · fr réciter (to recite) · kum айтмакъ (to pronounce) · sc nàrrere (to pronounce) · udm вераны (to say, to tell) · fr dire (to pronounce) · fur(to communicate verbally or in writing) · es se dice (to have a common expression) · cmn 說 /说 (to say, to tell) · ain イェ (to pronounce) · sh recitírati (to recite) · wlc uswali (to recite) · rap ki (to pronounce) · sh kazati (to say, to tell) · am አለ (to say, to tell) · lv teikt (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ta என் (to say, to tell) · id berkata (to say, to tell) · sk hovorí sa (to have a common expression) · zea zeie (to say, to tell) · si කියනවා (to pronounce) · egl dîr (to pronounce) · he אָמַר (to say, to tell) · cs říct (to indicate in a written form) · it dire (to say, to tell) · ar قال (to pronounce) · sk povie sa (to have a common expression) · gez ብህለ (to say, to tell) · wa dire (to indicate in a written form) · ja 言う (to pronounce) · lki ڤِتِن (to pronounce) · tr söylemek (to indicate in a written form) · nl zeggen (to pronounce) · nb si (to indicate in a written form) · nb resitere (to recite) · sh kázati (to communicate verbally or in writing) · mr सांगणे (to say, to tell) · fi sanoa (to pronounce) · fur(to pronounce) · cs říct (to communicate verbally or in writing) · tr söylemek (to recite) · ar قَالَ (to communicate verbally or in writing) · fr disons (imperative: let's say) · pt dire (to say, to tell) · liv kītõ (to pronounce) · bg ка́жа (to say, to tell) · ckb وتن (to communicate verbally or in writing) · zdj hwamɓia (to say, to tell) · be гавары́ць (to pronounce) · tft waje (to say, to tell) · grc λέγω (to communicate verbally or in writing) · la loquor (to pronounce) · sga as·beir (to pronounce) · ru говори́ть (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ar يَتْلُو (to recite) · ta கூறு (to say, to tell) · is segja (to pronounce) · sro narai (to pronounce) · ro zice (to pronounce) · ko 말하다 (to say, to tell) · ur کَہْنا (to pronounce) · nn seia (to indicate in a written form) · ce ала (to pronounce) · sh kázati (to pronounce) · sk hovoriť (to pronounce) · sga as·beir (to recite) · km ថា (to pronounce) · fi olla että (to say, to tell) · la aio (to pronounce) · grc εἶπον (to communicate verbally or in writing) · da sige (to pronounce) · tt ди (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ln loba (to say, to tell) · fr dire (to indicate in a written form) · nb si (to have a common expression) · arc ܐܡܪ (to pronounce) · kaw warah (to pronounce) · ngh ka (to say, to tell) · mr म्हणणे (to say, to tell) · my ပေါ့ (imperative: let's say) · zh 說 /说 (to pronounce) · orv говорити (to pronounce) · brh par (to pronounce) · tr yazmak (to indicate in a written form) · es digamos (imperative: let's say) · nl zeggen (to communicate verbally or in writing) · dsb groniś (to recite) · so sheegid (to say, to tell) · kk айту (to pronounce) · sl reči (to pronounce) · lo ເວົ້າ (to pronounce) · eo diri (to pronounce) · cy medd (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ja おっしゃる (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ca dir (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ang secgan (to pronounce) · su carios (to pronounce) · ca declamar (to recite) · kn ಅನ್ನು (to say, to tell) · fi sanotaan (imperative: let's say) · yue 講 /讲 (to pronounce) · lv sacīt (to pronounce) · pl powiedzieć (to pronounce) · sh гово̀рити (to pronounce) · orv мълвити (to pronounce) · uz demoq (to say, to tell) · sv ponera (imperative: let's say) · de sagen (to say, to tell) · sq kallzoj (to say, to tell) · nb forrette (to recite) · la dico (to communicate verbally or in writing) · fa-ira نَمایانْدَن (to indicate in a written form) · xal келх (to pronounce) · ne वाचन गर्नु (to recite) · ru сказа́ть (to say, to tell) · ka ვთქვათ (imperative: let's say) · eo diri (to say, to tell) · ja 申す (to say, to tell) · fo siga (to pronounce) · osx seggian (to pronounce) · nb uttale (to pronounce) · prs گُفْتَن (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sah эт (to pronounce) · ja 申し上げる (to say, to tell) · gl digamos (imperative: let's say) · uz gapirmoq (to pronounce) · km និយាយ (to pronounce) · sl reči (to indicate in a written form) · sv stå (to indicate in a written form) · my ပြော (to pronounce) · nmb ivr (to say, to tell) · as(to pronounce) · tt дияргә (to pronounce) · la dico (to pronounce) · fi kertoa (to say, to tell) · syl ꠇꠃꠣ (to say, to tell) · nrf dithe (to recite) · pa ਕਹਿਣਾ (to pronounce) · jv kandha (to pronounce) · zh 告訴 /告诉 (to pronounce) · sv låt säga (imperative: let's say) · my ဆို (to pronounce) · wa dire (to recite) · id berkata (to pronounce) · tet dehan (to say, to tell) · sga as·beir (to communicate verbally or in writing) · cs říct (to pronounce) · gv abbyr (imperative: let's say) · af(to pronounce) · la inquam (to pronounce) · rm gir (to pronounce) · ro spune (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sh reći (to say, to tell) · az demək (to pronounce) · la for (to communicate verbally or in writing) · es decir (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ur بولنا (to say, to tell) · sh rȅći (to communicate verbally or in writing) · itk דִירֵי (to say, to tell) · tyz cạ (to say, to tell) · ko(to have a common expression) · pt digamos (imperative: let's say) · ms bilang (to say, to tell) · lt sakoma (to have a common expression) · acm قال (to pronounce) · ks دَپُن (to pronounce) · qu ñiy (to pronounce) · shi ini (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sa विवक्ति (to pronounce) · gld ун- (to pronounce) · kn ಎನ್ನು (to say, to tell) · hu mond (to say, to tell) · ko 암송하다 (to recite) · mr म्हणणे (to pronounce) · scn dìciri (to pronounce) · fr dire (to recite) · scn diri (to pronounce) · fa گُفْتَن (to pronounce) · id bicara (to pronounce) · ga abair (to recite) · an decir (to pronounce) · ga abair (to indicate in a written form) · egy D:d (to pronounce) · mba ikagi (to pronounce) · ca dir (to say, to tell) · dsb groniś (to communicate verbally or in writing) · nb fortelle om (to indicate in a written form) · cdo 講 /讲 (to pronounce) · vi đọc (to recite) · ext izil (to pronounce) · ht di (to pronounce) · sh ре̏ћи (to pronounce) · ml പറയുക (to pronounce) · te చెప్పు (to pronounce) · swb urongoa (to communicate verbally or in writing) · mi korokī (to say, to tell) · lld disc (to pronounce) · qu nii (to pronounce) · sl praviti (to indicate in a written form) · be сказа́ць (to pronounce) · ota سویلهمك (to pronounce) · ks وَنُن (to say, to tell) · la for (to indicate in a written form) · otk 𐱅𐰃 (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ar قال (to pronounce) · pt falar (to communicate verbally or in writing) · grc λέγω (to pronounce) · bg ка́звам (to say, to tell) · aa exce (to say, to tell) · evn гунми (to pronounce) · fi sanoa (to communicate verbally or in writing) · chr ᏂᎦᏪᎠ (to pronounce) · fr dire (to say, to tell) · ckb گوتِن (to pronounce) · gl dicir (to pronounce) · ttj -gamba (to say, to tell) · sv låt oss säga (imperative: let's say) · nb fortelle (to say, to tell) · ko 답니다 (to have a common expression) · ext izil (to say, to tell) · nn seie (to pronounce) · ssy erhxe (to say, to tell) · zea zegge (to say, to tell) · tl sabihin (to pronounce) · gl recitar (to recite) · grc φημί (to pronounce) · sdh وەتِن (to pronounce) · or କହିବା (to pronounce) · sro fueddai (to pronounce) · hy ասել (to pronounce) · uz aytmoq (to say, to tell) · mbb kaɣi (to pronounce) · sh govòriti (to pronounce) · bg гово́ря (to communicate verbally or in writing) · tg гуфтан (to pronounce) · ja 語る (to pronounce) · da fortælle (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ast dicir (to pronounce) · ro spune (to say, to tell) · eve гӫндэй (to pronounce) · cs říkat (to say, to tell) · eo deklami (to recite) · lmo(to say, to tell) · ga abair (to communicate verbally or in writing) · fi kertoa (to pronounce) · fy sizze (to indicate in a written form) · fa-ira گُفْتَن (to say, to tell) · ba әйтеү (to pronounce) · cmn 說 /说 (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ba әйтеү (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ru гласи́ть (to indicate in a written form) · ja そうだ (to have a common expression) · nb si (to pronounce) · pl powiedzieć (to say, to tell) · cmn 告訴 /告诉 (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sh rȅći (to pronounce) · nl laten wij zeggen (imperative: let's say) · pl mówić (to communicate verbally or in writing) · shi ini (to pronounce) · ug دېمەك (to pronounce) · koi шуны (to pronounce) · nn seie (to indicate in a written form) · fr il paraît (to have a common expression) · lt sakyti (to communicate verbally or in writing) · la for (to recite) · de sagen (to recite) · la dico (to recite) · tk diýmek (to pronounce) · kk деу (to communicate verbally or in writing) · lv teikt (to pronounce) · cs říct (to say, to tell) · cic aachi (to pronounce) · kk деу (to pronounce) · ar قَال (to pronounce) · vec dir (to communicate verbally or in writing) · de laut (to indicate in a written form) · mn хэлэх (to pronounce) · ka ლაპარაკი (to pronounce) · he נגיד (imperative: let's say) · ur فرمانا (to say, to tell) · nl opzeggen (to pronounce) · fa-ira باز خوانْدَن (to recite) · lld dir (to pronounce) · ro zice (to say, to tell) · fi virkkaa (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ru сказа́ть (to pronounce) · sc narri (to pronounce) · tr demek (to say, to tell) · orv казати (to pronounce) · an dir (to say, to tell) · pl rzec (to pronounce) · bn বলা (to pronounce) · cic aachi (to have a common expression) · ro spune (to pronounce) · pt diz-se (to have a common expression) · ar حكى (to pronounce) · ckb گۆتن (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ca dir (to pronounce) · ne बोल्नु (to pronounce) · sw kuambia (to say, to tell) · tr demek (to pronounce) · agj ሀላ (to say, to tell) · ba һөйләү (to communicate verbally or in writing) · egl dîr (to say, to tell) · bg да ка́жем (imperative: let's say) · ba әйтеү (to say, to tell) · sh kázati (to indicate in a written form) · uk каза́ти (to say, to tell) · sa भाषते (to pronounce) · it si dice (to have a common expression) · pl wymawiać (to pronounce) · nrf dithe (to indicate in a written form) · ota دیمك (to pronounce) · sk hovoriť (to say, to tell) · nl luiden (to pronounce) · fa-ira بَرْخوانْدَن (to recite) · th พูด (to pronounce) · la fabulor (to recite) · it dire (to indicate in a written form) · nl staan (to indicate in a written form) · rm dir (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ur کہنا (to say, to tell) · su carios (to communicate verbally or in writing) · nn seia (to pronounce) · nl opgeven (to communicate verbally or in writing) · es decir (to pronounce) · ru сказа́ть (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sc faeddare (to pronounce) · kn ಹೇಳು (to say, to tell) · ia on dice (to have a common expression) · de sagen wir (imperative: let's say) · yi זאָגן (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ms kata (to say, to tell) · fa-ira نِمودَن (to indicate in a written form) · ca dir (to indicate in a written form) · nb det sies (to have a common expression) · tr demek (to communicate verbally or in writing) · es decir (to say, to tell) · ja おっしゃる (to say, to tell) · de säge (to pronounce) · uz demoq (to pronounce) · ba һөйләү (to recite) · he אָמַר (to pronounce) · ps اظهارول (to pronounce) · ia dicer (to pronounce) · grc λέγω (to say, to tell) · de verrichten (to recite) · sk povedať (to say, to tell) · mk каже (to pronounce) · hy ասել (to indicate in a written form) · lo ກ່າວ (to pronounce) · bg ка́жа (to pronounce) · tr demek (to indicate in a written form) · ky айтуу (to pronounce) · ru ска́жем (imperative: let's say) · gv abbyr (to communicate verbally or in writing) · fa گُفْتَن (to pronounce) · txb we- (to pronounce) · la inquam (to recite) · ta சொல் (to pronounce) · pt dizer (to say, to tell) · rup spun (to pronounce) · ja 語る (to communicate verbally or in writing) · rsk повесц (to pronounce) · wuu 講 /讲 (to pronounce) · bni loba (to say, to tell) · it recitare (to recite) · sk povedať (to communicate verbally or in writing) · pt dizem (to have a common expression) · ka სიტყვაზე (imperative: let's say) · ko 말하다 (to pronounce) · nrf dithe (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sk povedzme (imperative: let's say) · ba тейеү (to pronounce) · ru сообщи́ть (to communicate verbally or in writing) · fy stean (to indicate in a written form) · oc dire (to pronounce) · uk говори́ти (to pronounce) · fi oletetaan (imperative: let's say) · eo ni diru (imperative: let's say) · bg деклами́рам (to recite) · sq them (to say, to tell) · ja 書かれている (to indicate in a written form) · sh ка́зати (to pronounce) · lb soen (to pronounce) · bo གསུངས (to pronounce) · gv abbyr (to indicate in a written form) · tr okumak (to recite) · is segja (to communicate verbally or in writing) · es poner (to indicate in a written form) · de sagen (to pronounce) · ga abair (to pronounce) · tg гуфтан (to say, to tell) · ks وَنُن (to pronounce) · sdn(to pronounce) · ro zice (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sc faedhare (to pronounce) · gd can (to pronounce) · cs povědět (to pronounce) · zdj hwamɓa (to communicate verbally or in writing) · tet ha'ak (to pronounce) · ms kata (to pronounce) · ru сообща́ть (to communicate verbally or in writing) · no si (to communicate verbally or in writing) · udm шуыны (to pronounce) · ms cakap (to pronounce) · kok म्हणचे (to pronounce) · tr diyelim (imperative: let's say) · he אמר (to communicate verbally or in writing) · hi कहना (to say, to tell) · grc φήμι (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ar حكى (to pronounce) · nb vise (to indicate in a written form) · fi sanoa (to have a common expression) · inh ала (to pronounce) · rup dzãc (to communicate verbally or in writing) · la fabulor (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ota دیمك (to communicate verbally or in writing) · eo prononci (to pronounce) · la proloquor (to pronounce) · sl povedati (to pronounce) · nrf dithe (to pronounce) · eo elparoli (to pronounce) · wmw kusema (to say, to tell) · be каза́ць (to pronounce) · fa-ira گُفْتَن (to communicate verbally or in writing) · pms(to pronounce) · pt dizer (to pronounce) · bo ལབ (to pronounce) · ar يَقُول (to communicate verbally or in writing) · uk говори́ти (to say, to tell) · mww hais (to pronounce) · te అను (to say, to tell) · br lavaret (to pronounce) · pl mówić (to pronounce) · ja おっしゃる (to pronounce) · cy dweud (to communicate verbally or in writing) · kmr gotin (to pronounce) · fi sanoa (to say, to tell) · cs říkat (to pronounce) · rth maoman (to communicate verbally or in writing) · la for (to pronounce) · pt dizer (to communicate verbally or in writing) · cy dweud (to pronounce) · lld(to pronounce) · ko 말씀하다 (to pronounce) · lt sakyti (to pronounce) · sd چَوَڻُ (to pronounce) · tr söylemek (to communicate verbally or in writing) · kw leverel (to pronounce) · zh 講 /讲 (to pronounce) · zh 說 /说 (to pronounce) · lb soen (to communicate verbally or in writing) · kum демек (to pronounce) · sq them (to pronounce) · ja 言う (to say, to tell) · pl powiadać (to pronounce) · fy sizze (to say, to tell) · fr on dit (to have a common expression) · el λέγω (to say, to tell) · vi nói (to pronounce) · nn seie (to communicate verbally or in writing) · rup spun (to communicate verbally or in writing) · yi זאָגן (to recite) · da fortælle (to indicate in a written form) · tt әйтергә (to pronounce) · ml ശബ്ദിക്കുന്നു (to pronounce) · hi कहना (to pronounce) · fy útsprekke (to pronounce) · da sige (to communicate verbally or in writing) · eo diri (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ru говори́ть (to pronounce) · za gangj (to pronounce) · ka თქმა (to pronounce) · fi näyttää (to indicate in a written form) · ks دَپُن (to say, to tell) · rsk гуториц (to pronounce) · lad dezir (to pronounce) · got 𐌵𐌹𐌸𐌰𐌽 (to pronounce) · kw lawl (to communicate verbally or in writing) · sa वदति (to pronounce) · eu esan (to pronounce) · ks بوزناوُن (to say, to tell) · vi nói (to say, to tell) · hy ասել (to communicate verbally or in writing) · ca recitar (to recite) · ru говори́ть (to say, to tell) · nl opgeven (to indicate in a written form) · nds säggen (to pronounce) · tr söylemek (to say, to tell)

Source: en.wiktionary, “say” (verb), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

say en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

From Middle French saie, from Latin saga, plural of sagum (“military cloak”).

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) A type of fine cloth similar to serge.
    • 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:
    • 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 53:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
says Number=Plur lexicographic
Source: en.wiktionary, “say” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

say en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

Aphetic form of assay.

Meanings

  1. Trial by sample; assay; specimen.
    • If those principal works of God […] be but certain tastes and says, as if were, of that final benefit. , page 193
    • 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 308:
  2. Tried quality; temper; proof.
    • He found a sword of better say. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 47, page 505:
  3. 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):

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
says Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

saymaster

Source: en.wiktionary, “say” (noun), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

say en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

Aphetic form of assay.

Meanings

  1. 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:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
saying Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
says Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
sayed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
sayed Tense=Past lexicographic

Antonyms

sign · signal · write

Hypernyms

communicate · talk · express

Hyponyms

rumor · orate · rehearse · answer · deliver · reply · add · announce · criticize · render · profer · declare · quote · echo · recite · mention · missay · drone · instruct · ramble · enounce · argue · indicate · chant · inform · restate · signify · repeat · whisper · shout · question · disclose · complain · allege · respond · divulge · reiterate · maintain · convey · assert · judge · imply · reveal · exclaim · guess · sing · prescribe · decree · avow · scoff · conjecture · pronounce · relate · remark · affirm · describe · hiss · specify · claim · spiel · explain · suggest · estimate

Relateds

hearsay · say again

Synonyms

dictate · tell · speak · utter · yak · blather · report · voice · gab · say · state · verbalize

Source: en.wiktionary, “say” (verb), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

say en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

  • /seɪ/ (British, Southern, Standard)
  • /seɪ/ (General-American)
  • /seɪ/ (Canada)
  • /seɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (General-American)
  • (General-American) audio
  • (Canada)
  • [seː] (Canada)
  • [seː] (General-American)
  • [sɛj] (British, Southern, Standard)

Meanings

  1. (Scotland) A strainer for milk.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
says Number=Plur lexicographic