decívsdecísWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“decí” and “decís” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#42,935
“decí” frequency rank
#7,286
“decís” frequency rank
50221
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature decí decís
Definition Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de decir. Segunda persona del singular (vos) del presente de indicativo de decir.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set decí and decís apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

4 ch
decí
5 ch
decís

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. decí ([d̪eˈsi]) and decís ([d̪eˈsis]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 extra letter(s) - “decí” sits inside “decís”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 50221, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

decí is recorded at frequency rank #42,935, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsi]. decís is at rank #7,286, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsis].

Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.

With a confusion score of 50221, this pair ranks #104,417 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of decí vs decís

Shared letters: cdeí. Private to "decí": -. Private to "decís": s.

"decí" · 4 letters · shape CVCV  ·  "decís" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC

Frequency comparison

decí#42,935
decís#7,286

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "decí" and "decís" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([d̪eˈsi] versus [d̪eˈsis]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "decí" or "decís"?
"decís" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #7,286 in our Spanish list, against #42,935 for "decí". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering decí vs decís

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “decí” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list