Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Say

Definition: Say

Say

Noun

1. The chance to speak; "let him have his say".

Verb

1. Express an idea, etc. in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion".

2. Report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money".

3. Express a supposition; "Let us say that he did not tell the truth"; "Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?".

4. Have or contain a certain wording or form; "The passage reads as follows"; "What does the law say?".

5. State as one's opinion or judgement; declare; "I say let's forget this whole business".

6. Utter aloud; "She said 'Hello' to everyone in the office".

7. Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed".

8. Speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; "She pronounces French words in a funny way"; "I cannot say `zip wire'"; "Can the child sound out this complicated word?".

9. Recite or repeat a fixed text; "Say grace"; "She said her `Hail Mary'".

10. : communicate or express nonverbally; "What does this painting say?" "Did his face say anything about how he felt?".

11. : indicate; "The clock says noon".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "say" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Say

DomainDefinition

Computing

Say vt. 1. To type to a terminal. "To list a directory verbosely, you have to say `ls -l'." Tends to imply a newline-terminated command (a `sentence'). 2. A computer may also be said to `say' things to you, even if it doesn't have a speech synthesizer, by displaying them on a terminal in response to your commands. Hackers find it odd that this usage confuses mundanes. Source: Jargon File.

Literature

Say To take the say. To taste meat or wine before it is presented, in order to prove that it is not poisoned. The phrase was common in the reign of Queen Elizabeth
"Nor deem it meet that you to him convey
The proffered bowl, unless you taste the say"
Rose: Orlando Furioso, xxi. 61. Source: Brewer's Dictionary.

Multilingual Slang

Alemannic (verzapfe). (references)

Tips from 1870

Usage: Observe, Say. "He observed that the orphan pines while the oppressor feeds." To observe is to notice carefully, to attend closely to what one sees. In the above sentence said or remarked should be used instead of observed. Source: Slips of Speech.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Specialty Definition: Jean-Baptiste Say

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Jean-Baptiste Say (1767-1832) was a French economist and businessman. He had liberal views and argued in favour of competition, free trade and lifting restraints on business.

Say is well know for Say's law, often summarised as "Supply creates its own demand". He argued that production and sale of goods in an economy automatically produces an income for the producers of the same value, which would then be reinjected into the economy and create enough demand to buy the goods. Thus production is determined by the supply of goods rather than demand. Unemployment of men, land or other resources would not be possible unless it were by choice, or due to some kind of restraint on trade.

He was also among the first to argue that money was neutral in its effect on the economy. Money is not desired for its own sake, but for what it can purchase. An increase in the amount of money in circulation would increase the price of other goods in terms of money (causing inflation), but would not change the relative prices of goods or the quantity produced. This idea was later developed by economists into the Quantity theory of money.

Say's ideas helped to inspire neoclassical economics which arose later in the 19th century. The argument referred to as Say's law was heavily criticised by John Maynard Keynes and Keynesian economists.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Jean-Baptiste Say."

Top     

Synonyms: Say

Synonyms: allege (v), articulate (v), aver (v), enjoin (v), enounce (v), enunciate (v), order (v), pronounce (v), read (v), sound out (v), state (v), suppose (v), tell (v). (additional references)

Top     

Synonyms within Context: Say

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Affirmation

Verb: assert; make an assertion; Noun: have one's say; say, affirm, predicate, declare, state; protest, profess.

Regularity of recurrence Periodicity

Bout, round, revolution, rotation, turn, say.

Smallness

Almost, nearly, well-nigh, short of, not quite, all but; near upon, close upon; peu s'en faut, near the mark; within an ace of, within an inch of; on the brink of; scarcely, hardly, barely, only just, no more than. about, thereabouts, somewhere about, nearly, say; be the same, be little more or less. no ways, no way, no wise; not at all, not in the least, not a bit, not a bit of it, not a whit, not a jot, not a shadow; in no wise, in no respect; by no means, by no manner of means; on no account, at no hand.

Speech

Verb: speak of; say, utter, pronounce, deliver, give utterance to; utter forth, pour forth; breathe, let fall, come out with; rap out, blurt out have on one's lips; have at the end of one's tongue, have at the tip of one's tongue.

Oration, recitation, delivery, say, speech, lecture, harangue, sermon, tirade, formal speech, peroration; speechifying; soliloquy; allocution; conversation; salutatory : screed: valedictory.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Top     

Crosswords: Say

English words defined with "say": as we saysay farewellTo hear say, To say amen to. (references)
Etymologies containing "say": Veridical. (references)
Non-English Usage: "Say" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses.

Pidgin English (said), Vietnamese (inebriate).

Top     

Modern Usage: Say

DomainUsage

Screenplays

I don't exactly know what I am required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me. But could we assume that I said all that (A Beautiful Mind; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman)

Every time you've heard someone say they saw a ghost, or an angel (The Matrix Reloaded; writing credit: Andy Wachowski; Larry Wachowski)

I can't say I'm a big supporter of the Raisin Council (Benny and Joon ; writing credit: Barry Berman)

Say it again, it keeps me awake (Notorious; writing credit: Ben Hecht)

If I didn't know better, I'd say he developed an edifice complex (Tomorrow Never Dies; writing credit: Bruce Feirstein)

Lyrics

I've heard her say (Hard to Say I'm Sorry; performing artist: Az Yet)

How do I say goodbye to what we had (It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday; performing artist: Boyz II Men)

Do I have to say a prayer (Do I Have To Say The Words?; performing artist: Bryan Adams)

So don't say goodbye (Don't Say Goodbye; performing artist: Paulina Rubio)

There is no need to say you love me, (Say you'll be there; performing artist: Spice Girls)

Clever

We like a man to come right out and say what he thinks, if we agree with him. (references; author: Mark Twain)

If it turns out that there is a God, I don't think that he's evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever. (references; author: Woody Allen)

If money could talk, it would say goodbye. (references; author: unknown)

I don't necessarily agree with everything I say. (references; author: unknown)

Old folks say, "If all is not lost, where is it? (references; author: unknown)

Tongue Twisters

Say this sharply, say this sweetly, say this shortly, say this softly. Say this sixteen times in succession. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Let the Church Say Amen! (1973)

Say Something Don't Just Lie There (1973)

Funny You Should Say That (1972)

Maggie Cole Say Goodbye (1972)

Everybody Say Cheese (1971)

Song Titles

SAY YOU LOVE ME (performing artist: FLEETWOOD MAC)

Say You Will (performing artist: Foreigner)

Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye) (performing artist: Gladys Knight & The Pips)

NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE  (performing artist: Gloria Gaynor )

Oh Babe What Would You Say (performing artist: Hurricane Smith)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Commercial Usage: Say

DomainTitle

Books

  • First I Say the Shema (reference)

  • Before You Say 'I Do': A Marriage Preparation Manual for Couples (reference)

  • The Hard Questions : 100 Essential Questions To Ask Before You Say "I Do" (reference)

  • I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One (reference)

  • "I say, I say!" Great Britain's best corny jokes and the debatable wit and wisdom of Michael Watts (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  

Theater & Movies

  

Music

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Image Slideshow: Say

Photos:
Say

More pictures...

Illustrations:
Say

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Say

More pictures...

Top     

Photo Album: Say

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

They say that fish congregate around wrecks - a fisherman trying his luck next to a floating wreck. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Plate 274. The Mantis Shrimp. Squilla empusa, Say. Credit: National Marine Fisheries Historical Image Collection.

Your Health is in Your Hands. : Do What Your Doctor and Pharmacist Say. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

Be Smart! Don't Start! : Just Say No!. Credit: National Library of Medicine.

I'm bound to say, sir, that the appearances are in favor of you--. Credit: Library of Congress.

My name is Fairchild. I mean what I say. You're going to run the Liberta ashore on Sand Island. Mr. White will communicate with the engine room. Credit: Library of Congress.

Make him say "Uncle," Uncle!. Credit: Library of Congress.

There, darlin' -- tell the doctor gentleman what the ducks say. Credit: Library of Congress.

'If this is the only safe thing we can do to get back on the front pages, then I say let's do it!' / Oliphant. Credit: Library of Congress.

'I was about to say that if ol' J. Edgar was still running things, we wouldn't be having this big image problem...but let it pass' / Oliphant. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Top     

Digital Photo Gallery: Say
 

"Say no to drugs" by B M
Commentary: "It is a real skull :)."
"To say goodbye" by Elke Oerter
Commentary: "Nikon880."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

Top     

Familiar Quotations: Say

AuthorQuotation

Beaumont and Fletcher

Though I say it that should not say it.

Benjamin Franklin

Half wits talk much, but say little.

Charles Lamb

Presents, I often say, endear absents.

Henry David Thoreau

I say, break the law.

John Selden

Wise men say nothing in dangerous times.

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Who is wise in love, love most, say least.

Matthew Prior

They talk most who have the least to say.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Accept your genius and say what you think.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens

Say the report is exaggerated.

William Shakespeare

They say an old man is twice a child.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Historic Usage: Say

AuthorDateQuotation

John Locke

1690

The labour of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his. (Second Treatise of Government)

Marbury v. Madison

1803

It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. (reference)

Communist Manifesto

1848

But, you will say, we destroy the most hallowed of relations, when we replace home education by social. (reference)

Abraham Lincoln

1863

The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. (The Gettysburg Address)

Winston S. Churchill

1946

Beware, I say; time may be short. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1963

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. (Delivered on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1909)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Use in Literature: Say

TitleAuthorQuote

The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Children, I say plainly, "watch out for the baobabs!

Emma

Austen, Jane

I do not scruple to say that she plays extremely well

Sylvie and Bruno Concluded

Carroll, Lewis

So, for the present, I say no more about it.

A Christmas Carol

Dickens, Charles

I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now.

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

A revelation, he could almost say, had been granted to him.

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

We may say, by the way, that success is a hideous thing

Trainspotting

Irvine Welsh

Even junglecats sit doon n huv a wee purr tae themselves now and again, like say, usually after they've likes devoured somebody

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Joyce, James

They thought he would say the day he won some great battle or the day he was made an emperor

Brighton Beach Memoirs

Neil Simon

Eugene: Why don't you just say you lost the money

King Richard III

Shakespeare, William

Withal say that the Queen hath heartily consented He should espouse Elizabeth her daughter

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Non-Fiction Usage: Say

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

The child used to say a few words or babble, but now he/she doesn’t. (references)

The patient knows what he wants to say, but cannot find the words he needs. (references)

Wait for the child to say the intended word. Don't try to complete the child's thoughts. (references)

Business

Private industry people familiar with these projects say only one plant is operational. (references)

Industrial sources say the market volume for TMS is expected to grow at 20 percent annually. (references)

Auto experts also say that the Chinese market is too diversified to sustain a single family car. (references)

Children

Spain

According to a report by the NGO Gypsy Presence, one-fifth of teachers describe themselves as anti-Roma, and one-fourth of students say that they would like to see Roma expelled from school. (references)

Civil Liberties

Vietnam

Friends have been allowed to visit him, but say authorities discourage visits. (references)

Romania

The Greek Catholics say they have received 137 churches, while the Government claims 200 churches had been returned by year's end. (references)

Economic History

Korea

Suffice it to say that the above means are legal means. (references)

Philippines

Philippine officials say they are working toward that end. (references)

Venezuela

However, in general, most U.S. companies say they do not find the restriction to be onerous. (references)

Human Rights

Brazil

Police say that Nascimento was shot while resisting arrest. (references)

Brazil

They removed Crispiniano from his home and later telephoned to say that he was being held hostage for ransom. (references)

Mozambique

Justice Ministry officials say that some police lack adequate training and do not know how to charge a person properly. (references)

Indigenous People

Belize

Among the country's indigenous people, the Mopan and Ke'kchi are grouped under the general term Maya, although their leaders say that they should be identified as the Masenal, meaning "common people." The Maya have sought official recognition of their communal claims to land, but the Government has been reluctant to single out one ethnic group for special consideration. (references)

Minorities

Zimbabwe

Catholic Church officials say they welcome interfaith dialog with Muslims but believe some of the evangelical churches are hostile to Islam. (references)

Niger

Starting in 1998, Southern Baptist missionaries in Say (30 miles south of Niamey) faced harassment by members of the majority Islamic community. (references)

Political Economy

Eq. Guinea

The opposition has little say in Parliament. (references)

BOLIVIA

Union leaders say problems are often moot by the time the court rules. (references)

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabian planners say that there are no export subsidy programs for industrial projects. (references)

Political Rights

Vietnam

Party officials occupied most senior government and National Assembly positions and continued to have the final say on key issues. (references)

Colombia

Afro-Colombian organizations say that Afro-Colombians have almost no representation in the executive branch, judicial branch, and civil service positions, and in military hierarchies. (references)

Trade

Egypt

It is too early to say how well the new procedures are functioning. (references)

Travel

Nepal

Many say they spent more than 24 work hours per visa, over a period of 20 to 30 days. (references)

Romania

When dining, it is usual to say "pofta buna" (bon appetit) before eating, and "noroc" (cheers) before drinking. (references)

Oman

Omanis seek U.S. products and investment partners, but typically say that they have difficulty attracting the interest of U.S. firms new to the Omani market. (references)

Women

Finland

A total of 579 cases of rape were reported to the police in 2000, compared with 514 in 1999. Government experts say that as many as half, if not more, of all rape cases may go unreported. (references)

Guyana

Lawyers say that while more victims are reporting these crimes to the authorities, there still is a social stigma applied to the victim for doing so. An estimated 5 percent of cases reported to H&S were rape cases; the vast majority of these--80 percent--were reported by victims age 17 and under. (references)

Niger

Female genital mutilation (FGM), which is condemned widely by international health experts as damaging to both physical and psychological health, is practiced by several ethnic groups in the western department of Tillaberi (which includes Niamey and the towns of Say, Torodi, and Ayorou) and the eastern department of Diffa. (references)

Worker Rights

China

They have little say in the choice of mediators. (references)

Bolivia

However, union leaders say that problems are often moot by the time the court rules. (references)

Ukraine

However, the law gives unions a say in labor safety and in the allotment of newly built public housing. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

VANITY, n. The tribute of a fool to the worth of the nearest ass. They say that hens do cackle loudest when There's nothing vital in the eggs they've laid; And there are hens, professing to have made A study of mankind, who say that men Whose business 'tis to drive the tongue or pen Make the most clamorous fanfaronade O'er their most worthless work; and I'm afraid They're not entirely different from the hen. Lo! the drum-major in his coat of gold, His blazing breeches and high-towering cap -- Imperiously pompous, grandly bold, Grim, resolute, an awe-inspiring chap! Who'd think this gorgeous creature's only virtue Is that in battle he will never hurt you? Hannibal Hunsiker

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Top     

Spoken Usage: Say

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Andrew Weil

Look, I say, if I'm in an automobile accident, I don't want to first go to a shaman or an herbalist, I want to go to a trauma center and get put back together.

Dennis Miller

I'm proud to say I have not once opened the hood of my car.

Lynda Carter

That's kind of hard to say because I would either not drink for long periods of time and then I would drink.

Marlo Thomas

Look at that face, just like when you were in high school. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a cheerleader in trouble.

Robert Novak

Senator, in opposing the national commission, Vice President Cheney also invoked national security. Let's listen for a minute to what he had to say.

Rush Limbaugh

It's absurd to say that democracy isn't for Muslims.

Sarah Ferguson

If they're regular human beings, they're going to talk about regular human being things. And I would say the news is a regular thing to discuss.

Sylvia Browne

Oh, and you're screaming in your heads. And you're like this. Oh, it's horrible. You say to God, please let me make a fast exit and entrance.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Speeches: Say

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

Thomas Jefferson

1801-1809Nor should we now or at any time separate until we say we have done everything for the militia which we could do were an enemy at our door.

John Quincy Adams

1825-1829To admit that this picture has its shades is but to say that it is still the condition of men upon earth.

Abraham Lincoln

1861-1865The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

Harry S. Truman

1945-1953What we think, plan, say, and do is of profound significance to the future of every corner of the world.

John F. Kennedy

1961-1963President, I should like to say clearly once more that we could not remain indifferent to this.

Richard Nixon

1969-1974If it does not succeed, anything I say then won't matter.

Jimmy Carter

1977-1981With bipartisan support from Congress, the bill passed, and I am pleased to say that implementation is running well ahead of the statutory schedule.

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989Now, some say the research would be expensive.

George Bush

1989-1993One might say that our new relationship in part reflects the triumph of hope and strength over experience.

Bill Clinton

1993-2001So I say to you tonight, let's give our children a future.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Usage Frequency: Say

"Say" is generally used as a lexical verb (infinitive) -- approximately 60.85% of the time. "Say" is used about 67,790 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Lexical Verb (infinitive)60.85%41,247197
Lexical Verb (base form)38.47%26,081311
Noun (singular)0.64%43613,209
Unclassified Items0.03%2078,262
                    Total100.00%67,790N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

Top     

Name Usage Frequency: Say

The following table summarizes the usage of "say" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified.
NameUsage/GenderUsage per 100
million Persons
Rank in USA
SayLast name1,00015,359
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

Top     

Expressions: Say

Expressions using "say": advisable to say so as he was wont to say as much as to say as one might say as they say as we say before one can say jack robinson before you could say jack robinson can't say bo to a goose deciding how to say it deciding what to say final say have a limited say have a say have ones say have one's say have the final say have the last say have the main say in smth. how dare you say that? i beg to say i dare say i dare say he'll be there i did not say so i don't care what people say i hate to say this but i mean what i say i must say i say old thing! i'll say it is in sooth to say it is hard to say it is nonsense to say so it pains me to say so it was not your part to say it let's say men say that needless to say needless to say that never say die never say die! not dare to say one's soul is his own not dare to say one's soul is one's own not take upon one self to say not to be able to say much for not to say one need not say people say people say that say a good word for say a mouthful say a prayer say about say after me! say again say all say aloud say altitude say aside say aye to say back say cheers say cheese! say ditto say ditto to say ditto to smb. say farewell say first say good bye to say good morning say goodbye to say grace say heading say hello say 'hello' say 'hello' to say hello to ivan say hello to smb. say hi say in advance say in jest say it again! say it no more! say it out plump! say mass say no say no more! say no to say nothing say on say on! say one's beads say one's prayer say one's prayers say one's say say out say over say over and over again say sermon say smb.'s prayers say smth. in an offhand manner. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "say": say-about, say-as, say-foring, say-ing, say-so, say-understandable.

Ending with "say": brasee-li-en-say, conditions-say, consciousness-say, content-say, hear-say, how-do-you-say, how-you-say, look-and-say, nay-say, some-would-say, s-say, s-s-s-say, two-say, variation-say, what-i-say, you-don't-say, You'll-do-as-i-say.

Containing "say": it's his say-so, never-say-die, never-say-die-ishness, on your say-so, see-all-hear-all-say-nowt.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Frequency of Internet Keywords: Say

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

when you say nothing at all

422

kid say the darndest things

73

say what

362

i say a little prayer

73

say yes

345

to say i love you

69

say my name

231

fleetwood mac say will

68

after hello say say

211

don t say a word

67

say the time

210

say thank you

67

when you say nothing at all lyrics

162

jenny lyrics say

64

just say wow

155

bye good lyrics say time

63

say anything

150

destinys child lyrics say my name

60

to say good bye

145

lyrics say my name

60

simon say

142

bye good hard its say so yesterday

59

ways to say i love you

140

say sweet things

57

guts it jesus say take

127

bye good lyrics say

56

after author hello say say

126

i say yi yi

51

say it

123

say the rosary

51

floetry lyrics say yes

123

just say wow.com

50

time to say good bye

108

funny things to say

49

say you will

83

never say never again

47

i just called to say i love you

83

best it nothing say say when

46

confucious say

79

say a little prayer

44
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Modern Translation: Say

Language Translations for "say"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Afrikaans

  

(tell). (various references)

   

Albanian

  

shqiptoj (enounce, enunciate, mouth, pronounce, utter), shpreh (bid, breathe, clothe, couch, embody, express, express oneself, extend, formulate, give voice to, import, outspeak, phrase, profess, put, put forward, speak, utter), them (be good at, begin to play, begin to sing, break into a song, call, give voice to, go, impart, know, name, refer, speak, talk, tell), përsërit përmendsh, opinion (judgement, judgment, mind, notion, opinion, thinking, view, voice), mendoj (believe, conceive, consider, contemplate, deem, deliberate, dream up, elaborate, expect, fancy, feel, figure, guess, hold, imagine, judge, mean, opine, ponder, rate, reason, reckon for, reflect, regard, repute, study, suppose, take, think, Trow, try, understand, ween), mendim (brainchild, cogitation, conceit, conception, estimation, idea, judgement, judgment, meditation, mind, muse, notion, opinion, reflection, reflexion, self-communion, sentiment, spirit, thinking, thought), flas (discourse, hold forth, palaver, speak, talk), fjalë (agreement, hearsay, language, news, order, promise, report, rumor, rumour, speech, term, vocable, word), deklamoj (declaim, horse, rant, recite, spout). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏نطق (articulation, enunciate, enunciation, pronounce, pronouncement, speech, spoke, utterance, vocalization, vocalize), ‏لفظ (articulate, articulation, discharge, eject, ejection, emission, emit, enunciate, enunciation, expel, pronounce, pronunciation, spit, vocalization, vocalize), ‏قول (saying, utterance, word), ‏قال (go, said, speak, state, talk, tell, told, utter), ‏حكمة (aphorism, discreetness, foresight, maxim, policy, proverb, prudence, sagacity, sapience, sobering, wholesomeness, wisdom), ‏تكلم (bleat, mouth, speak, spoke, tongue), ‏زعم (allegation, allege, feign, pretence, pretend), ‏صرح (avow, castle, certify, cut open, declare, edifice, outrival, palace, predicate, proclaim, profess, represent, state, tower), ‏إعتقد (believe, calculate, conceive, consider, deem, imagine, reckon, suppose, think), ‏إعترف (acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, come clean, concede, confess, grant, own, own up, profess, recognize), ‏ألقى خطابا (deliver, speechify), ‏رأي (consideration, deliverance, feeling, idea, judgement, judgment, mind, opinion, persuasion, saw, sentiment, theory, think, verdict, view), ‏دور (age, circle, cycle, floor, function, part, place, refrain, role, round, storey, turn). (various references)

   

Basque

  

esan (say to, tell). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

решаващо мнение, казвам (bid, call, convey, observe, put to, state, tell, utter), например (for example, for instance), последна дума, почти (about, almost, approximately, half, like, near, nearly, next to, nigh, on, practically, something like, virtually, well nigh). (various references)

   

Catalan

  

dir (tell). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

, . (various references)

   

Croatian

  

rekli. (various references)

   

Czech

  

říci (speak, tell). (various references)

   

Danish

  

sige (tell). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

zeggen (tell), opgeven (abandon, give up, lose, renounce, resign, tell). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

teksti (read), he (hey), diri (tell). (various references)

   

Faeroese

  

siga (express, tell), hoyr (hey). (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

مثلا (Like, Thus), نوبت حرف زدن , گفتن (Bubble, Cite, Inform, Intimate, Observe, Rehearse, Relate, Tell, Utter, Utterance), حرف زدن (Speak, Talk), حرف (Blabbermouth, Grapheme, Jib, Letter, Particle, Speech, Talk, Word, Yap), سخن گفتن (Address, Discourse, Speak), صحبت کردن سخن , اظهارداشتن (Express, Remark, State), اظهار (Proposal, Remark, Showing, Statement, Testimony, Utterance), بیان کردن (Bubble, Express, Frame, Give, Impart, Represent, Tell). (various references)

   

Finnish

  

sanoa (call, express, state, tell). (various references)

   

French

  

dire (to say). (various references)

   

French Canadian

  

dit. (various references)

   

Frisian

  

sizze (tell). (various references)

   

Galician

  

dixo. (various references)

   

German

  

sagen (mean, put, sagas, speak, tell, to say, to say (said, utter). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

άκουσον (hark), λέω (tell). (various references)

   

Guarani

  

he'ise (it wants to say), erese (you want to say), ereséva (what you want to say), eremíkena (please say). (various references)

   

Haitian Creole

  

di (said, ten, to say). (various references)

   

Hawaiian

  

afirmoj (affirm, assent, say yes). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

למלל (speak, talk, utter), לומר (put in, spell, state, tell), לאמור (namely, speak, state, tell, thus, to wit, viz.), להפטיר (dismiss, let go, release, sack, send away), להגיד (announce, declare, make known, narrate, tell), לדבר (jaw, speak, talk), לסיח (speak, talk), אמר (saying, utterance, word), חות דעת (advice, counsel, opinion), זכות דבור, דעה (estimation, insight, knowledge, mind, opinion, understanding, view, wisdom). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

mondanivaló (message), mondás (maxim, phrase, saying), mond (had, have, tell, to have, to mind one's p's and q's, to pronounce, to say a few words, to snarl, to tell, to term, told), azaz (i.e., namely, that is, that is to say, to wit, viz, viz., what is to say). (various references)

   

Icelandic

  

segja (narrate, relate, tell). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

wah (gosh, oh, well, why), misalnya (e.g., for example, for instance), menghaturkan, membilangkan (tell), bilang (every). (various references)

   

Inuktitut

  

uqaqtuq (to say). (various references)

   

Irish

  

abair (tell). (various references)

   

Italian

  

dire (bid, mean, name, speak, talk, tell, to tell). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

あっと言わせる (cherubic, errr, Excuse me..., floundering and almost drowning, innocent, to startle, well). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

あのう (errr, well). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

할말. (various references)

   

Luxembourgish

  

soen. (various references)

   

Manx

  

gra (articulate, express, phrase, state), abbyr (assume, assume Geometry, state). (various references)

   

Maya

  

a'al (to say). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

sier, si (tell), sa. (various references)

   

Occitan

  

díser. (various references)

   

Papiamen

  

bisa (tell). (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

aysay.(various references)

   

Polish

  

powiedzieć (tell). (various references)

   

Portuguese

  

dizer (account, blurt, converse, guffaw, inform, recital, recite, report, speak, state, tell, to tell, utter), proferir (deliver, issue, pronounce, publish, send, tell, utter), palavra (expression, loan, shibboleth, spell, term, vox, word). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

spune (call, declare, denounce, explain, name, pass, pretend, pronounce, propose, put, recite, relate, remark, speak, speak to, state, tell, utter). (various references)

   

Romansch

  

dir (to say). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

сказать (quoth, tell), говорить (mince, saith, speak, speak under correction, spoke, talk, talked, tell, they say). (various references)

   

Scottish

  

can (sing, speak, tell, titter), abair (express, tell, utter). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

uticaj (ascendant, hold, influence, interest, sway), reći (tell), mišljenje (belief, intent, judgement, judgment, mind, opinion, thinking, view), kazati (tell), govoriti (militate, speak, talk, tell, tongue), autoritet (authority). (various references)

   

Somali

  

oran. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

decir (call, get in, go, let out, mention, observe, pass over, put, put in, read, recite, saying, speak, tell, think, to say, voice, word). (various references)

   

Sranan

  

taki (bough, branch, speak, talk, tell). (various references)

   

Swahili

  

je (hey, now, well, well then). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

säga (bid, speak, tell, utter), yttra (offer, pass, speak, utter). (various references)

   

Thai

  

พูด, สิทธิในการพูด, ยกตัวอย่าง, คาดเดา. (various references)

   

Tswana

  

re (and, us, we). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

söylemek (affirm, air, apprise, assert, aver, bade, bid, break, call, confess, couch, deliver, drop, enunciate, give voice to, hazard, impart, name, observe, order, pass, pronounce, remark, report, sing, sound, speak, speak of, spill, spit, spit out, state, tell, throw out, utter, voice, word), demek (bade, bid, call, observe, so, style, tell, term, then). (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

яamanlamak, gьrlemek (speak), diяmek1. (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

сказати, твердити (affirm, allege, argue, assert, aver, avouch, claim, depose, predicate), говорити (speak, talk, tell, tongue, word), висловлювати (bring out, discharge, enounce, express, give voice to, phrase, pronounce, put, set forth, signify, spit, term, vocalize, voice), висловлювання (observation, saying), виражати (convey, denominate, denote, express, write), авторитет (authority, cathedra, force), послухайте (I say, look here, see here). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

tiếng nói (said, voice), tiên đoán đồn diễn đạt viện ta làm lý lẽ (said), quyết định về lấy (said), hứa hẹn (coming, said), dịp nói (said), đưa làm chứng cớ cho ý kiến về (said). (various references)

   

Welsh

  

dweud (narrate, relate, speak, tell). (various references)

   

Xhosa

  

uthi (You say). (various references)

   

Yucatec

  

a'alik (tell). (various references)

   

Zulu

  

we (hey), -thi (tell). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Top     

Ancestral Language Translations: Say

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Sumerian3100 BCE-2500 BCE

bi. (various references)

Latin500 BCE-Modern

adaia, adaias, aia, aiebat, aio, aiom, ait, aiunt, casfor, dic, dicam, dicamque, dicamus, dicant, dicantur, dicas, dicat, dicatis, dicatque, dicatur, dicebam, dicebamque, dicebant, dicebantur, dicebas, dicebat, dicebatque, dicebatur, dicemus, dicemusque, dicenda, dicendo, dicendum, dicens, dicensque, dicent, dicente, dicentem, dicentes, dicenti, dicentia, dicentibus, dicentis, dicentium, dicentque, dicentur, dicere, diceremus, dicerent, diceres, diceret, diceretis, diceretur, dices, dicesque, dicet, dicetis, dicetque, dicetur, diceturque, dici, dicimini, dicimus, dicis, dicit, dicite, dicitis, dicito, dicitur, dico, dicta, dictae, dictis, dicto, dictos, dictum, dictumque, dicturi, dicturus, dicturusque, dictus, dicunt, dicuntur, dixeram, dixeramus, dixeras, dixerat, dixeratis, dixerim, dixerimus, dixerint, dixeris, dixerit, dixeritis, dixero, dixerunt, dixeruntque, dixi, diximus, dixique, dixisse, dixissem, dixissent, dixisset, dixisti, dixistique, dixistis, dixit, dixitque, enuntiabit, enuntiant, enuntiat, enuntiavi, enuntiavit, enuntio, fado, fari, femur, fer, fere, feris, ferque, for, for, fari, fatus, haio, heu, iesaias, inquam, inquit, inquiunt, locuta, locutaque, locuti, locutique, locutum, locutura, locutus, locutusque, loquamini, loquamur, loquantur, loquar, loquaris, loquatur, loquebamur, loquebantur, loquebar, loquebaris, loquebatur, loquebaturque, loquemur, loquendi, loquendo, loquendum, loquens, loquente, loquentem, loquentes, loquentibus, loquentis, loquentium, loquentur, loquere, loqueremur, loquerentur, loquerer, loquereris, loqueretur, loqueris, loquerisque, loquetur, loqueturque, loqui, loquimini, loquimur, loquitur, loquiturque, loquor, loquuntur, narro, sesai, superdixerunt. (various references)

Avestan200-600

aoj-. (various references)

Old English450-1100

ge-secgan, secgan. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Bible Trace: Say

LanguageDateSourceMatthew Chapter 16, Verse 28
Greek (transliterated)250 BCSeptuagintAmhn legw umin eisin tineV twn wde esthkotwn oitineV ou mh geuswntai qanatou ewV an idwsin ton uion tou anqrwpou ercomenon en th basileia autou
Latin405VulgateAmen dico vobis sunt quidam de hic stantibus qui non gustabunt mortem donec videant Filium hominis venientem in regno suo
Old English990West SaxonSoðlice ich segge eow sume syndher standende þe deað ne onberiað.ær hyo seoð mannes sune cumendeon hys fæder riche.
Middle English1395WyclifTreuli Y seie to you, `ther ben summe of hem that stonden here, whiche schulen not taste deth, til thei seen mannus sone comynge in his kyngdom.
Renaissance English1526TyndaleVerely I saye vnto you some ther be amonge them that here stonde which shall not taste of deeth tyll they shall have sene the sonne of man come in his kyngdomen.
Jacobean English1611King JamesVerily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Victorian English1833WebsterVerily I say to you, There are some standing here, who shall not taste death, till they shall see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Basic English1964OgdenTruly I say to you, There are some of those here who will not have a taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Matched Bible Translations: Say

LanguageMatthew Chapter 16, Verse 28
CebuanoSa pagkatinuod, magaingon ako kaninyo, nga sa mga nanagbarug karon dinhi adunay pila ka buok nga dili pa una makatilaw sa kamatayon, hangtud nga makita na nila ang Anak sa Tawo sa iyang pag-abut diha sa iyang gingharian."
Croatian"Zaista, kažem vam, neki od ovdje nazoènih neæe okusiti smrti dok ne vide Sina Èovjeèjega gdje dolazi sa svojim kraljevstvom."
DanishSandelig siger jeg eder, der er nogle af dem, som stå her, der ingenlunde skulle smage Døden, førend de se Menneskesønnen komme i sit Rige."
DutchVoorwaar zeg Ik u: Er zijn sommigen van die hier staan, dewelke den dood niet smaken zullen, totdat zij den Zoon des mensen zullen hebben zien komen in Zijn Koninkrijk.
FinnishTotisesti minä sanon teille: tässä seisovien joukossa on muutamia, jotka eivät maista kuolemaa, ennenkuin näkevät Ihmisen Pojan tulevan kuninkuudessaan."
FrenchJe vous le dis en vérité, quelques-uns de ceux qui sont ici ne mourront point, qu`ils n`aient vu le Fils de l`homme venir dans son règne.
GermanWahrlich ich sage euch: Es stehen etliche hier, die nicht schmecken werden den Tod, bis daß sie des Menschen Sohn kommen sehen in seinem Reich.
Haitian CreoleSa m'ap di nou la a, se vre wi: Nan moun ki la koulye a, gen ladan yo ki p'ap gen tan mouri san yo pa wè Moun Bondye voye nan lachè a tounen tankou yon wa k'ap gouvènen.
Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hariKetahuilah! Dari antara kalian di sini ada yang tidak akan mati, sebelum melihat Anak Manusia datang sebagai Raja."
Indonesian-Terjemahan LamaDengan sesungguhnya Aku berkata kepadamu: Ada beberapa orang yang berdiri di sini, yang tiada akan merasai mati, sebelum dilihatnya Anak manusia datang dengan kerajaan-Nya."
ItalianIn verità vi dico: vi sono alcuni tra i presenti che non morranno finché non vedranno il Figlio dell'uomo venire nel suo regno».
Manx GaelicDy firrinagh ta mee gra riu, Dy vel paart nyn shassoo ayns shoh, nagh jean blashtyn er y baase, derrey hee ad Mac y dooinney cheet ayns e reeriaght.
MaoriHe pono taku e mea nei ki a koutou, Tenei ano etahi e tu nei e kore e pangia e te mate, kia kite ra ano i te Tama a te tangata e haere mai ana i runga i tona rangatiratanga.
NorwegianSannelig sier jeg eder: Nogen av dem som her står, skal ikke smake døden før de ser Menneskesønnen komme i sitt rike.
PortugueseEm verdade vos digo, alguns dos que aqui estão de modo nenhum provarão a morte até que vejam vir o Filho do homem no seu reino.   
RumanianAdevqrat vq spun cq unii din cei ce stau aici nu vor gusta moartea pknq nu vor vedea pe Fiul omului venind kn Kmpqrqyia Sa.``
ShuarPaant Tájarme, shuar jui wajainia ju Játsuk Wi akupin ajasmatai Wáitkiartatui" Tímiayi.
SpanishDe cierto os digo que hay algunos que están aquí, que no probarán la muerte hasta que hayan visto al Hijo del Hombre viniendo en su reino.
SwahiliKweli nawaambieni, wako wengine papahapa ambao hawatakufa kabla ya kumwona Mwana wa Mtu akija katika Ufalme wake."
SwedishSannerligen säger jag eder: Bland dem som här stå finnas några som icke skola smaka döden, förrän de få se Människosonen komma i sitt rike."
UmaMpu'u-mpu'u ku'uli' -kokoi: ngkai olo' -ni koi' toi, ria-koi mpai' to ko'ia mate kako'ia-na nihilo-a, Aku' Ana' Manusia', rata jadi' Magau'."

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Derivations & Misspellings: Say

Derivations

Words beginning with "say": sayable, sayer, sayers, sayest, sayid, sayids, saying, sayings, sayonara, sayonaras, says, sayst, sayyid, sayyids. (additional references)

Words ending with "say": assay, bioassay, daresay, essay, gainsay, hearsay, immunoassay, misassay, missay, radioimmunoassay, resay, soothsay, unsay. (additional references)

Words containing "say": assayed, assayer, assayers, assaying, assays, bioassayed, bioassaying, bioassays, calisaya, calisayas, doomsayer, doomsayers, doomsaying, doomsayings, essayed, essayer, essayers, essaying, essayist, essayistic, essayists, essays, gainsayer, gainsayers, gainsaying, gainsays, hearsays, immunoassayable, immunoassays, misassayed, misassaying, misassays, missaying, missays, naysayer, naysayers, radioimmunoassayable, radioimmunoassays, resaying, resays, soothsayer, soothsayers, soothsaying, soothsayings, soothsays, unsayable, unsaying, unsays, yeasayer, yeasayers. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Say" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: aay, Asby, asi, Asie, asmy, asoy, asu, asy, asyl, eay, esay, Nsai, osai, qay, qsy, sa, S'a, saah, sady, saey, Safyn, sah, saib, saie, saif, saix, saj, saky, Sakya, samy, sany, saq, Saryk, sasy, saty, sau, sav, savy, savyy, saxy, saya, sayd, saye, Sayf, sayg, sayi, sayn, sayo, sayr, sayy, Sayyaf, sba, scy, scye, Seaya, sei, sej, sevy, Seym, seyn, sezy, sidy, sii, Simy, sivy, siy, sja, skaye, smy, soay, soey, sofy, somy, soya, soyd, soye, soyo, soyx, sqa, sqay, suavy, suey, suie, sumy, suy, swy, sxy, sy, sya, syad, syak, syan, syi, syw, syy, syz, szady, tsai, zacy, zady, zagy, zah, zai, zaq, zary, zau, zav, zay, zey, zfy, ziy. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Top     

Rhyming with "Say"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "say" (pronounced sā")
2s ā"essay, fiance, Nisei, passe.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Top     

Anagrams: Say

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Direct Anagrams: ays.

Words within the letters "a-s-y"

-1 letter: as, ay, ya.

 Words containing the letters "a-s-y"
 

+1 letter: abys, ashy, ayes, bays, cays, days, easy, eyas, fays, gays, hays, jays, kays, lays, mays, nays, pays, pyas, rays, ryas, sagy, says, shay, slay, soya, spay, stay, sway, ways, yaks, yams, yaps, yaws, yays, yeas.

 

+2 letters: abyes, abysm, abyss, acyls, amyls, antsy, artsy, aryls, assay, asyla, ayahs, ayins, bassy, brays, casky, chays, clays, cyans, cycas, cymas, daisy, dashy, drays, dyads, essay, eyras, flays, frays, gassy, gawsy, grays, hasty, hoyas, hylas, kayos, kyaks, kyars, kyats, lyase, lyssa, mashy, massy, mayas, mayos, mayst, mynas, nasty, ofays, okays, palsy, pansy, pasty, patsy, plays, prays, quays, raspy, rayas, resay, sadly, saggy, sally, salty, sandy, sappy, sarky, sassy, satay, satyr, saucy, saury, savoy, savvy, sayer, sayid, sayst, scaly, scary, seamy, shady, shaky, shaly, shays, slaty, slays, snaky, soapy, soyas, spacy, spays, splay, spray, stagy, stays, stray, swamy, sways, sylva, tansy, tasty, trays, unsay, vasty, washy, waspy, yacks, yaffs, yagis, yangs, yanks, yards, yarns, yauds, yaups, yawls, yawns, yawps, yeans, years, yeast, yogas, yuans, yucas, yugas.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

Top     



INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Images: Photo Album
8. Images: Digital Art
9. Quotations: Familiar
10. Quotations: Historic
11. Quotations: Fiction
12. Quotations: Non-fiction
13. Quotations: Spoken
14. Quotations: Speeches
15. Usage Frequency
16. Names: Frequency
17. Expressions
18. Expressions: Internet
19. Translations: Modern
20. Translations: Ancient
21. Bible Trace
22. Derivations
23. Rhymes
24. Anagrams
25. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.