Introduction
digáis is a Spanish verb form that English-speaking learners may notice in conversations, instructions, and written messages. It comes from the verb decir, meaning to say or to tell. At first glance, it can be difficult to recognize because its ending is not the same as the forms most learners meet first, such as digo or dices. The key is to know that it is usually used when speaking to a group of people with vosotros, the informal plural form of you used mainly in Spain.
You will often see digáis after words such as espero que, quiero que, or no, because it belongs to the present subjunctive. This form can express a wish, request, suggestion, or negative command. Learning it helps you understand everyday Spanish more easily and speak naturally when addressing several friends, classmates, or relatives in Spain. Even if you mainly use Latin American Spanish, recognizing digáis is useful when reading Spanish materials or talking with people from different regions.
Meaning and Definition
Digáis is the present subjunctive form of decir for vosotros. In simple terms, it can mean that you all say or tell, when the sentence expresses a wish, doubt, request, suggestion, or another idea that is not presented as a plain fact. The English translation depends on the rest of the sentence. For example, espero que digáis la verdad means I hope you all tell the truth.
Spanish has several ways to address people. Vosotros is the informal plural you used in Spain, often when talking to friends, family members, or people of a similar age. In much of Latin America, speakers normally use ustedes when addressing a group, whether the situation is formal or informal. The matching subjunctive form with ustedes is digan, not digáis.
The form is irregular because decir does not follow the usual pattern in every part of its conjugation. To form the present subjunctive, Spanish speakers use the present-tense yo form, digo, as a starting point. The ending changes to fit the subject: diga for usted, digas for tú, digamos for nosotros, digáis for vosotros, and digan for ustedes or ellos. The stem also changes from dec- to dig-.
The word is connected to the Latin verb dicere, meaning to say or speak. This history helps explain why the verb has several different-looking forms, including digo, dices, and digáis. The important point for learners is practical: digáis refers to a group addressed as vosotros, and its subjunctive use depends on the meaning and structure of the sentence.
Although English does not have a separate verb ending that matches this form, it often uses a phrase with you all. The Spanish sentence may not need a pronoun because the verb ending already gives a clue about who is being addressed. In context, digáis may be translated as you say, you tell, or that you say or tell.
Usage and Example Sentences
The following examples show common situations where digáis appears. Pay attention to the expression before the verb. Words and phrases that express a wish, hope, request, or command often lead to the subjunctive.
Spanish: Espero que digáis algo cuando os pregunten.
English: I hope you all say something when they ask you.
Spanish: Quiero que digáis vuestros nombres con claridad.
English: I want you all to say your names clearly.
Spanish: Es importante que digáis la respuesta en voz alta.
English: It is important that you all say the answer out loud.
Spanish: No digáis nada hasta que llegue la profesora.
English: Do not say anything until the teacher arrives.
Spanish: Me alegra que digáis lo que pensáis.
English: I am glad that you all say what you think.
Spanish: Ojalá digáis que sí a la invitación.
English: I hope you all say yes to the invitation.
Spanish: El entrenador pide que digáis las instrucciones otra vez.
English: The coach asks you all to say the instructions again.
Spanish: Aunque digáis que es fácil, conviene practicar.
English: Even if you all say it is easy, it is a good idea to practice.
In the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth examples, the form follows a phrase that introduces a hope, desire, judgment, emotion, request, or possibility. In the fourth example, digáis is part of a negative command to a group. Spanish uses the subjunctive for negative commands, which is why the form looks the same as it does after espero que.
Compare these examples with a statement of fact: Vosotros decís la respuesta, meaning You all say the answer. Decís is the present indicative, used to describe something presented as real or factual. If a speaker says Espero que digáis la respuesta, the speaker is expressing a hope instead. That change in meaning is a common reason for choosing the subjunctive.
Synonyms, Antonyms, and Word Usage Differences
There is no single synonym that can replace digáis in every sentence. The closest general verb is decir, to say or tell. If the intended meaning is giving information to someone, contar may also work. For example, contar una historia means to tell a story. However, contar is not a direct substitute in every grammatical structure, so learners should consider both meaning and verb form.
Hablar means to speak or talk. It focuses on the act of speaking rather than the specific words that someone says. In a sentence about sharing an opinion, a speaker might use decir to focus on the message or hablar to focus on having a conversation. Compare Quiero que digáis la respuesta, meaning I want you all to say the answer, with Quiero que habléis, meaning I want you all to speak or talk.
Some useful related forms are digas, diga, digamos, and digan. They belong to the same present subjunctive pattern but match different subjects. Digas is for tú, diga is for usted, digamos is for nosotros, and digan is for ustedes or ellos and ellas. Choosing the right form depends on who is being addressed or discussed.
The clearest opposite in a particular sentence is often simply a different message, rather than an opposite verb form. For example, decir que sí means to say yes, while decir que no means to say no. If the intended contrast is keeping something unspoken, callar can mean to be quiet or remain silent. Still, callar is not the grammatical antonym of digáis; it has its own conjugation and meaning.
Do not confuse digáis with decís. Both forms can refer to vosotros, but they have different moods. Decís is present indicative and commonly states what a group says. Digáis is present subjunctive and commonly appears after a trigger such as quiero que or espero que, or in a negative command. The accent marks also differ: decís has an accent on í, while digáis has one on á.
Another helpful comparison is between digáis and digan. These forms can express similar ideas, but they address different groups in standard usage. Use digáis when addressing people as vosotros, mainly in Spain. Use digan when addressing people as ustedes or referring to a group of people in the subjunctive. The meaning of the sentence may stay much the same, while the regional pronoun and verb form change.
Pronunciation and Accent
A common pronunciation guide for digáis is dee-GAIS, with the strongest stress on the second syllable. In IPA, a broad phonemic transcription is /diˈɡais/. In many varieties of Spanish, the g between vowel sounds is pronounced more softly, so the sound may be represented phonetically as [diˈɣais]. The precise sound can vary a little from speaker to speaker.
The word has two syllables: di-gáis. The letters a and i form a diphthong, a pair of vowel sounds spoken together in one syllable. The written accent over á tells you that the stress falls on that syllable. It does not split the vowels into separate syllables. Say the word smoothly, with a clear stressed sound on gáis rather than putting equal force on both parts.
The accent mark is important because Spanish spelling rules use written accents to show stress when a word does not follow the expected pattern. Without the mark, the spelling would suggest a different stress pattern. It also helps distinguish digáis from similar-looking forms such as decís. When writing, remember that the accent belongs over the a, not the i.
English speakers sometimes pronounce the g too strongly, as in the English word go. In Spanish, the sound is usually softer between vowel sounds. Another common mistake is to make three syllables by separating a and i. Keep them together in the second syllable. Listening to a range of Spanish speakers and repeating the word in a full sentence can help you match natural rhythm and stress.
Native Speaker Nuance and Usage Context
In everyday Spanish in Spain, digáis is a natural form when one person addresses a group informally and expresses a wish or request. A teacher might say Quiero que digáis vuestro nombre, while a friend might say Espero que digáis que sí. The form itself is not especially formal or old-fashioned. Its tone comes mainly from the sentence around it and the relationship between the speakers.
It is also common in negative instructions. For example, a parent, teacher, or group leader could say No digáis eso, meaning Do not say that. This is addressed to several people as vosotros. In a positive command, Spanish uses a different form: decid. The difference is useful to remember: a positive command to vosotros commonly ends in d, while a negative command uses the subjunctive form digáis.
Learners may hear digáis less often in much of Latin America because vosotros is generally not used there in everyday conversation. Speakers usually address a group with ustedes and choose digan in corresponding subjunctive sentences. This is a regional difference, not a difference in basic meaning. Both forms can communicate a request or hope that a group says something.
In writing, digáis can appear in messages, instructions, school materials, and dialogue. It may also appear in a sentence introduced by aunque, meaning even if or although. In that setting, the subjunctive can present the idea as uncertain or not central to the speaker’s point. For example, Aunque digáis que no, podemos intentarlo means Even if you all say no, we can try.
To understand the form quickly, look at the subject and the words around it. Ask whether the speaker is addressing a group as vosotros. Then check whether the sentence expresses a hope, request, suggestion, or negative command rather than a simple fact. These clues make digáis easier to recognize, even when the sentence contains other unfamiliar words.
Conclusion
Digáis is the present subjunctive form of decir used with vosotros, the informal plural you used mainly in Spain. It can mean that you all say or tell, and it often follows expressions of hope, desire, requests, feelings, or importance. It is also used in negative commands, as in No digáis nada. In contrast, decís usually describes what a group says as a fact, and digan is the corresponding form used with ustedes.
For pronunciation, remember the two syllables di-gáis and place the stress on the second syllable. The accent over á marks that stress, while the a and i remain together in one syllable. Learning digáis gives you a clearer understanding of Spanish verb patterns and regional usage. Even if you do not use vosotros in your own conversations, recognizing this form will help you understand Spanish speakers, books, and lessons from Spain.
