decíasvsdecideWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#15,066
“decías” frequency rank
#3,041
“decide” frequency rank
18107
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature decías decide
Definition Segunda persona del singular (tú, vos) del pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de decir. Tercera persona del singular (él, ella, ello; usted, 2.ª persona) del presente de indicativo de decidir o de decidirse.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set decías and decide apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

6 ch
decías
6 ch
decide

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. decías ([d̪eˈsias]) and decide ([d̪eˈsið̞e]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 3 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 18107, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

decías is recorded at frequency rank #15,066, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsias]. decide is at rank #3,041, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsið̞e].

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 18107, this pair ranks #269,306 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of decías vs decide

Shared letters: cde. Private to "decías": así. Private to "decide": i.

"decías" · 6 letters · shape CVCVVC  ·  "decide" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV

Known mistypes of this pair

  • decidedceide · ddecide · deccide · decdie · decidde · decied · deicde · deside

Frequency comparison

decías#15,066
decide#3,041

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "decías" and "decide" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([d̪eˈsias] versus [d̪eˈsið̞e]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "decías" or "decide"?
"decide" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #3,041 in our Spanish list, against #15,066 for "decías". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering decías vs decide

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 “decías” 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