In French, dire and parler are two essential verbs that express communication, but they are used in different contexts. Dire means "to say" or "to tell," focusing on the exact words spoken, while parler means "to speak" or "to talk," emphasizing the act of speaking or conversing.
'dire' is about saying specific words, while 'parler' is about speaking or talking.
- dire = to say, to tell (focus on exact words)
- parler = to speak, to talk (focus on the act of speaking)
- dire is used with reported speech and direct quotes.
- parler is used for languages, topics, and conversations.
Usage of Dire
Dire is used when expressing what someone said, told, or announced. It is often followed by a direct quote, reported speech, or indirect speech.
- Use dire to report statements or express exact words.
- Commonly used in formulas like « Il dit que... » (He says that...).
Conjugation of Dire (Present)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | dis |
| Tu | dis |
| Il/Elle | dit |
| Nous | disons |
| Vous | dites |
| Ils/Elles | disent |
Example:
- Il dit la vérité. (He says the truth.)
- Elle dit que c’est important. (She says that it’s important.)
The correct verb for 'to say' is 'dire'.
dire is used for:
- Stating what someone said (real or reported)
- Announcing or telling information
Usage of Parler
Parler is used when referring to the act of speaking or talking. It is also employed when mentioning the language someone speaks or when discussing the topic of conversation.
- Use parler for conversations, expressing oneself verbally, or discussing languages.
- Can be followed by à (to) when indicating the person you speak to.
- Can be followed by de (about) when indicating the topic of conversation.
Conjugation of Parler (Present)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | parle |
| Tu | parles |
| Il/Elle | parle |
| Nous | parlons |
| Vous | parlez |
| Ils/Elles | parlent |
Example:
- Nous parlons français. (We speak French.)
- Il parle à son ami. (He speaks to his friend.)
- Elles parlent de leur projet. (They talk about their project.)
The verb 'parler' is used for 'to speak' or 'to talk'.
parler is used for:
- Speaking/talking (general sense)
- Languages (parler + [language])
- Conversations/posting messages (parler à..., parler de...)
Dire vs Parler: Summary
| Verb | Meaning | Typical Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dire | To say, tell | Reporting speech, expressing words | Il dit la vérité. |
| Parler | To speak, talk | Speaking, languages, conversations | Ils parlent français. |
'dire' is used for expressing exact words and reporting speech.
Exercises
- Choose the correct verb (dire/parler) and conjugate it:
a. Nous _ (to speak) de la politique.
b. Elle _ (to say) qu'elle est fatiguée.
c. Tu _ (to speak) anglais?
d. Ils _ (to say) la vérité.
- Translate and explain:
a. He says that he is ready.
b. We speak French at home.
c. She talks to her brother every day.
d. They say that the movie is good.
- Create three sentences using dire in indirect speech and three sentences using parler with different prepositions (à, de).