Dire is the most common way to say “to say” in French. But just like in English, there are many other options to express speaking, telling, or stating something.

As you become more fluent in French, you’ll want to add nuance and variety to your vocabulary. Knowing different ways to say "to say" will make your conversations richer and more natural.

Let’s explore 9 alternative ways to say “to say” in French, and when to use them!

The standard 'to say' or 'to tell' – dire

The standard “to say” or “to tell” – dire

Dire is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in French, meaning “to say” or “to tell.”

It's an irregular verb, so its conjugation needs to be memorized. Here's the present tense:

• je dis (I say/tell)
• tu dis (you say/tell - informal singular)
• il/elle/on dit (he/she/one says/tells)
• nous disons (we say/tell)
• vous dites (you say/tell - formal singular/plural)
• ils/elles disent (they say/tell)

Dire is used to introduce direct speech or quotes, similar to "to say" in English. For example, Il dit : "Je suis fatigué." (He says: "I am tired.")

It's also essential for reporting indirect speech, often followed by que (that) or si (if). For instance, Elle dit qu'elle viendra. (She says that she will come.)

When dire means “to tell someone,” it requires the preposition à (to) followed by the person, or an indirect object pronoun. So, you'll say dire à quelqu'un (to tell someone), not dire quelqu'un. Example: Je lui dis la vérité. (I tell him/her the truth.)

Dire appears in many common French expressions:

• dire bonjour (to say hello)
• dire au revoir (to say goodbye)
• dire la vérité (to tell the truth)
• dire des bêtises (to say silly things/nonsense)
• ça veut dire... (that means...)

While both relate to speaking, dire focuses on what is said (the content), whereas parler focuses on the act of speaking or the language being used. You dis something, but you parles a language or parles to someone.

Dire is a versatile verb used in all registers, from very formal to casual everyday conversations, making it indispensable for any French learner.

💡 * Qu'est-ce que tu dis ? (What are you saying?)

• Il m'a dit qu'il était en retard. (He told me he was late.)
• Dis-moi la vérité. (Tell me the truth.)
• Nous disons toujours bonjour à nos voisins. (We always say hello to our neighbors.)
• Elles disent qu'elles sont prêtes. (They say they are ready.)
• Ça ne me dit rien. (That doesn't mean anything to me / That doesn't appeal to me.)

The 'to speak' or 'to talk' (often implying saying something) – parler

The 'to speak' or 'to talk' (often implying saying something) – parler

The verb parler is one of the most fundamental verbs in French, meaning 'to speak' or 'to talk'. It's essential for any conversation and is one of the first verbs learners encounter.

Parler is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide range of contexts, from discussing the languages you know to simply having a conversation with someone. It encompasses both the act of vocalizing and engaging in discourse.

As a regular -er verb, parler follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy to learn for beginners. For example, je parle, tu parles, il/elle/on parle, nous parlons, vous parlez, ils/elles parlent.

When you want to specify who you are talking to, you use the preposition à: parler à quelqu'un (to talk to someone). If you're talking about something, you use de: parler de quelque chose (to talk about something).

Parler can be used to indicate fluency in a language (parler français), the manner of speaking (parler fort - to speak loudly), or the subject of a discussion (parler d'un problème - to talk about a problem).

While parler focuses on the act of speaking or talking, dire (to say/tell) emphasizes the content of what is said. For instance, Je parle français (I speak French) but Je dis la vérité (I say/tell the truth).

💡 * Je parle français. (I speak French.)

• Nous parlons à nos amis. (We talk to our friends.)
• Elle aime parler de ses voyages. (She likes to talk about her travels.)
• Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you speak more slowly, please?)
• Ils parlent souvent au téléphone. (They often talk on the phone.)

The 'to tell a story' or 'to recount' – raconter

The verb raconter is a fundamental French verb that primarily means 'to tell a story' or 'to recount'.

It is used when you want to narrate events, share anecdotes, or describe something that has happened. Think of it as painting a picture with words, explaining a sequence of events.

As a regular -er verb, raconter follows a predictable conjugation pattern, making it relatively straightforward for learners to master.

While dire means 'to say' or 'to tell' (information, a fact), raconter specifically implies a narrative or a detailed account. You raconte a story, but you dis a secret.

You'll often hear phrases like raconter une histoire (to tell a story) or raconter sa journée (to recount one's day), emphasizing its narrative function.

Typically, raconter takes a direct object, which is the thing being told or recounted (e.g., une histoire, des souvenirs). For example, Je raconte une histoire à mes enfants (I tell a story to my children).

💡 * Elle aime raconter des blagues. (She likes to tell jokes.)

• Il nous a raconté ses vacances. (He recounted his vacation to us.)
• Peux-tu me raconter ce qui s'est passé ? (Can you tell me what happened?)
• Je vais te raconter une histoire incroyable. (I'm going to tell you an incredible story.)

The 'to express' or 'to voice' – exprimer

The verb exprimer in French translates directly to 'to express' or 'to voice' in English. It is a regular -ER verb, making its conjugation relatively straightforward.

Exprimer is commonly used to talk about expressing feelings, thoughts, opinions, or ideas. It highlights the act of putting something internal into an outward form, whether through words, gestures, or art.

The reflexive form, s'exprimer, means 'to express oneself' or 'to speak out'. It emphasizes the subject as both the one expressing and the one being expressed, often implying a personal or self-revealing act.

💡 * J'ai du mal à exprimer mes sentiments. (I have trouble expressing my feelings.)

• Il a exprimé son opinion clairement. (He expressed his opinion clearly.)
• Elle s'exprime très bien en public. (She expresses herself very well in public.)
• Les artistes utilisent la peinture pour exprimer leur vision du monde. (Artists use painting to express their vision of the world.)
• Comment puis-je exprimer ma gratitude ? (How can I express my gratitude?)

The 'to declare' or 'to state' – déclarer

The 'to declare' or 'to state' – déclarer

Déclarer is a versatile French verb that primarily means 'to declare' or 'to state'.

It is generally used in more formal or official contexts, implying a clear, often public, pronouncement or statement. However, it can also describe stating something directly.

One of its most common uses is for official declarations, such as déclarer ses impôts (to declare one's taxes), déclarer une naissance (to declare a birth), or déclarer la guerre (to declare war).

It can also be used to express intentions, feelings, or facts, as in déclarer son amour (to declare one's love) or déclarer qu'on est fatigué (to state that one is tired).

As a regular -er verb, déclarer follows a straightforward conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy to master once the core meaning is understood.

💡 *Il doit déclarer ses revenus avant le mois de mai. (He must declare his income before May.)
*Elle a déclaré son amour pour lui. (She declared her love for him.)
*Le président a déclaré l'état d'urgence. (The president declared a state of emergency.)
*Je déclare que cette information est fausse. (I state that this information is false.)
*Ils ont déclaré un accident de voiture. (They reported/declared a car accident.)

The 'to announce' or 'to make known' – annoncer

The French verb annoncer directly translates to 'to announce' or 'to make known' in English. It's a fundamental verb used to convey information, news, or intentions to others.

You'll encounter annoncer in many situations, from announcing important news or events (e.g., a wedding, a birth, a concert) to making known a decision, a departure, or even the weather forecast. It implies a formal or semi-formal declaration.

Annoncer is a regular -er verb, which means its conjugation follows a predictable pattern. However, pay attention to the ç before an o or a in some forms (e.g., nous annonçons) to maintain the 's' sound.

While similar to verbs like dire (to say, to tell) or informer (to inform), annoncer carries a stronger sense of public declaration or official communication. It's about bringing something to public attention.

Common phrases include annoncer la bonne nouvelle (to announce the good news) or annoncer un événement (to announce an event). It's also used impersonally as Il est annoncé que... (It is announced that...).

💡 *Le président a annoncé sa décision hier. (The president announced his decision yesterday.)
*Ils vont annoncer les résultats du concours demain. (They are going to announce the competition results tomorrow.)
*La météo annonce de la pluie pour ce week-end. (The weather forecast announces rain for this weekend.)
*Nous annonçons avec joie la naissance de notre fille. (We joyfully announce the birth of our daughter.)

The 'to affirm' or 'to assert' – affirmer

The verb affirmer directly translates to 'to affirm' or 'to assert' in English. It signifies a strong declaration or a confident statement of truth.

It implies a forceful declaration of something as true or factual, often used when someone is stating their conviction, belief, or a fact with certainty, sometimes in the face of doubt or opposition.

You'll frequently find affirmer in contexts where someone is insisting on a point, confirming a belief, or declaring a right or position. It carries a more formal and emphatic tone than simply 'to say' (dire).

💡 *Il a affirmé son innocence devant le tribunal. (He affirmed his innocence before the court.)
*Elle affirme que c'est la meilleure solution. (She asserts that it is the best solution.)
*Le rapport affirme que les résultats sont concluants. (The report affirms that the results are conclusive.)
*Je peux affirmer avec certitude que ce projet réussira. (I can affirm with certainty that this project will succeed.)

The 'to specify' or 'to clarify' – préciser

The verb préciser translates to 'to specify' or 'to clarify' in English. It's a regular -ER verb, meaning its conjugation follows a predictable pattern, making it relatively easy to learn.

Préciser is used when you want to add more details, make something clearer, or state something with greater exactness. It implies a deliberate act of making information precise, often to resolve ambiguity.

You'll frequently encounter préciser in both formal and informal settings. It's essential when asking for or giving specific information, elaborating on a point, or ensuring there's no misunderstanding.

While expliquer means 'to explain' generally, préciser specifically emphasizes bringing precision or clarity to a statement. Think of it as explaining with more detail or making something exact.

💡 * Pourriez-vous préciser votre pensée ? (Could you clarify your thought?)

• Il a précisé qu'il arriverait à 15h. (He specified that he would arrive at 3 PM.)
• Je dois préciser un point important. (I need to specify an important point.)
• Elle a précisé les conditions du contrat. (She clarified the terms of the contract.)

The 'to mention' or 'to refer to' – mentionner

The French verb for 'to mention' or 'to refer to' is mentionner. It's a key verb for discussing information, facts, or people in both spoken and written French.

At its core, mentionner means to bring something or someone to attention verbally or in writing. It's a transitive verb, always taking a direct object, meaning you 'mention something' or 'mention someone'.

Good news for learners! Mentionner is a regular -ER verb, which means its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -er. This makes it relatively easy to learn and use in different tenses, like je mentionne, tu mentionnes, il/elle mentionne, etc.

You'll encounter mentionner in various contexts, from casual conversations ('Il a mentionné qu'il viendrait.' - He mentioned he would come) to more formal settings like reports or official documents ('Le rapport mentionne les difficultés rencontrées.' - The report mentions the difficulties encountered). It's a versatile verb for introducing a topic or detail.

While similar to parler de (to talk about), mentionner often implies a briefer, more direct reference. Parler de can imply a more extensive discussion, whereas mentionner is simply to state or cite something briefly. For example, you mentionnez a fact, but you parlez de a subject in detail.

💡 * Il a mentionné ton nom hier. (He mentioned your name yesterday.)

• N'oubliez pas de mentionner les sources. (Don't forget to mention the sources.)
• Elle a mentionné qu'elle était fatiguée. (She mentioned that she was tired.)
• Le document mentionne une date limite. (The document mentions a deadline.)
• Je dois mentionner ce point lors de la réunion. (I need to mention this point during the meeting.)

Are there other ways to say 'to say' in French?

Are there other ways to say “to say” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “to say” in French. But French, like any rich language, offers a variety of nuances, from formal expressions to informal slang, and even regional variations, some of which might be less common or specific to certain contexts.

To explore further, you can do an online search for 'synonymes de dire' or 'comment exprimer [idea] en français' to discover more nuanced verbs for 'to say' or 'to express' in different Francophone regions.

You might find several interesting synonyms for dire on this list. As always, make sure to check a word’s definition, its conjugations, and try to see it used in various contexts before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different verbs used to convey speech or expression, adding richness to your understanding.

And if you’re looking for more nuanced ways to express speech or communication in French, the WordReference entry for dire is an excellent place to start for synonyms and contextual examples!

I hope you found this article helpful in expanding your French vocabulary. To conclude, here’s a thought from the French philosopher Blaise Pascal: Les mots que l’on dit ne sont pas toujours les meilleurs. (The words one says are not always the best.)