Say means express words or information in speech.

The idea

Use say your name, say hello or say that again. The past is said. With a named listener, use say hello to the teacher.

Examples

  • Please say your name.
  • How do you say this word?
  • She said hello to the teacher.
  • I said thank you after the meal.
  • Could you say that again?
  • He said the word slowly.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

In this greeting pattern, the listener follows to: say hello to someone. Tell someone uses a different pattern.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the past form. Yesterday she ___ hello. (said / sayed)

    Show answer or example answer

    said

    Said is the irregular past of say.

  2. Choose the word for the greeting recipient. She said hello ___ the teacher. (to / about)

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    to

    To introduces the person receiving the greeting.

  3. Choose the request for repetition. You did not hear the words. Which request asks for repetition? (Could you say that again? / Could you say your name?)

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    Could you say that again?

    Say that again requests repetition.

Use it today

Ask someone to say a word again and describe a greeting you said.