The verb to say · Conjugation
Past Simple of say
The answer: said
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to say is said.
Example: She said hello to me.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | said |
| You | said |
| He / She / It | said |
| We | said |
| You (pl.) | said |
| They | said |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Sayed ❌
Say is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is said (it sounds like /sɛd/), never sayed.
2. Said = /seɪd/ ❌
Said sounds like /sɛd/ (it rhymes with bed), not /seɪd/. Says sounds like /sɛz/ (it rhymes with fez), not /seɪz/. This is a very common pronunciation mistake.
3. She said me hello ❌
Say + the words, with no person needed. Tell + the person + the words. She said hello ✓. She told me a secret ✓. She said me hello ✗.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of say?+
The Past Simple of say is said (it sounds like /sɛd/, like bed). It is the same for every person. The past participle is also said.
Why does said not rhyme with say?+
Said sounds like /sɛd/, like bed or red. The letters ai do not sound /eɪ/ as in say. It is an exception. Says is the same: /sɛz/, not /seɪz/.
Is it said or told?+
Use said when you give the words: She said hello. Use told when you name the person: She told me a secret. Tell almost always needs a person after it.
Is it didn't say or didn't said?+
Say didn't say: I didn't say that! After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (say, not said). The past is already in did.
How do you report what someone said?+
Use He said (that) + the rest of the sentence: He said (that) he was tired. People often leave out that when they speak. The verb usually moves one step into the past: "I am tired" becomes He said he was tired.
Related pages: say Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/say/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to say are coming soon.