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say

v. · n. · adv. · interj.
US //ˈseɪ// UK //sˈeɪ// say
Irregular verb past said past participle said
  1. 1 to speak words (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to use your voice to express thoughts, opinions, or information.

    to utter words so as to convey information, an opinion, a feeling, or an intention.

    Example

    I forgot to say thank you for the lovely gift you sent me.

    Example

    The witness was asked to say exactly what she saw during the minutes leading up to the accident.

    Usage

    Often followed by a 'that' clause or direct speech.

    Teacher's tip

    Remind students that 'say' focuses on the message, while 'tell' focuses on the recipient.
    Pitfall
    He said me that he was tired.
    He told me that he was tired.

    The verb 'say' focuses on the words spoken and does not take a person as a direct object; use 'tell' if you want to mention the listener directly.

  2. 2 to show in writing (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to give information in a written form, like a sign or a book.

    to indicate or communicate information through written or printed text.

    Example

    The sign says that the museum is closed on Mondays.

    Example

    The instructions clearly say that the device must be fully charged before its first use.

    Usage

    Commonly used with inanimate subjects like 'the sign' or 'the clock'.
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  1. 3 to suppose (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to imagine or assume something is true for a moment.

    to assume or suppose something as a basis for argument or suggestion.

    Example

    Let's say you win the lottery; what would you buy first?

    Example

    Say we decide to move the headquarters to London; how would that affect our current tax liabilities?

    Usage

    Often used in the imperative form to introduce a hypothetical scenario.
  2. 4 right to decide (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the right or power to influence a decision.

    the opportunity to express a view or the power to influence a final decision.

    Example

    Employees want to have a say in how the company is run.

    Example

    Although the board members debated the proposal for hours, the CEO ultimately had the final say on the matter.

    Usage

    Usually appears in the phrase 'to have a say' or 'to have the final say'.
  3. 5 for example (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    used to suggest an example or an approximate number.

    used to introduce an example or an approximate amount; functions as a sentence adverb.

    Example

    We could meet at a café, say at three o'clock?

    Example

    If you were to invest a small amount, say five hundred dollars, the potential returns could still be significant.

    Usage

    Typically placed before the noun or phrase it modifies.
  4. 6 getting attention (interj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Informal

    a word used to get someone's attention before asking a question.

    an exclamation used to attract attention or express surprise.

    Example

    Say, have you seen my car keys anywhere?

    Example

    Say, that is a remarkable piece of architecture across the street.

    Usage

    Used at the beginning of a sentence.

    Teacher's tip

    This is quite old-fashioned or specific to certain American dialects; students might hear it in older films.
Etymology 1

From Middle English seyen, from Old English secgan, from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to say”).

Cognates include North Frisian sai, seede, sii, sjide, sooi, säie, West Frisian sizze, Alemannic ŝchége, ŝchegi, séege, säge, sägä, Bavarian sogn, soon, sågn, Luxembourgish soen, Faroese siga, and Jamtish segi. The adverb and interjection derive from the verb.

Etymology 2

From Middle French saie, itself from Latin saga, the plural of sagum — a military cloak.

Etymology 3

Aphetic form of assay.

Word family
Idioms27 entries

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