Join Discorddirait
would say (third-person singular conditional of 'dire')
Si tu lui demandais, il dirait la vérité.
If you asked him, he would tell the truth.
seems / looks like (used impersonally, e.g. 'on dirait que...')
Notes
GENERAL INFO
Dirait is the third-person singular (il/elle/on) conditional form of the verb "dire" (to say/to tell). It means "would say" or "would tell."
USAGE
It expresses hypothetical statements, opinions, or politeness. Often used in the idiom "on dirait que..." (it looks like/it seems that...).
*Example: On dirait qu'il va pleuvoir.* (It looks like it's going to rain.)
*Example: Elle dirait oui.* (She would say yes.)
TRAPS
Avoid confusing it with the future tense "dira" (will say). "Dirait" implies a condition or hypothesis, while "dira" states a future fact. Also, for "you" plural/formal, use "vous diriez" (you would say), not "vous dirait".