Words to use instead of decir
@languageoclock made this kind of vocabulary list for German “words to use instead of sagen”, and so I’m adapting/adding to the the list for Spanish as a kind of looser “words to use instead of decir” version
molestar = to annoy [used like gustar]
discutir = to argue, to discuss [pelear or luchar are more physical]
argumentar = to contend, to argue
articular = to articulate / to enunciate, to speak clearly
aspirar = to suck in air
aspirar = to aspire
soplar = to blow air out
soplar = to blow (wind)
dar voz a = to voice [lit. “to give voice to”; dar voces is sometimes translated as “to shout”]
poner voz a = to voice [lit. “to put voice to”]
pronunciar = to pronounce
plantear = to claim, to make a claim/statement
predicar = to preach (religion)
predicar = to assert, to declare / to mention
declarar = to declare, to make a statement
regañar = to scold, to yell at (usually parents to children)
reprochar = to rebuke, to reproach
reclamar = to complain, to appeal (legal)
ladrar = to bark [usually said of dogs]
darse cuenta = to realize, to notice
notar = to notice, to perceive
percibir = to notice, to observe
informar = to report, to inform
enfatizar = to emphasize
hacer hincapié en (algo) = to stress (something)
recalcar, remarcar = to stress, to emphasize, to underscore
pedir = to ask, to plead / to request
[in the sense of food/restaurants, pedir is “to order”]
solicitar = to request, to seek, to ask for
[solicitar can also be “to apply for a job”]
hablar entre dientes = to mutter [lit. “to speak between teeth”]
hablar muy bajo = to mutter [lit. “to speak softly”]
mascullar = to mutter, to mumble
deletrear = to spell out [in the sense of telling someone how something is spelled]
clarificar = to clarify, to spell out
decirlo en blanco y negro = to spell something out, to not beat around the bush [lit. “to say it in white and black”]
debatir = to debate
discutir = to discuss [when not meaning “to argue”, it means more “to talk about something in depth”]
hablar = to speak
[in some contexts, hablar can carry the meaning of “to put into words”, or “to speak up/out”]
invitar = to invite
[side note: invitar can also be used as “to treat” when you buy something for someone else; invito yo is “it’s my treat”]
contraargumentar = to counter, to counter-argue
contraatacar = to counter, to counterattack
contar = to tell (a story)
recontar = to recount (a story)
[note: contar can also mean “to count (numbers)”, or contar con algo/alguien “to trust (something/someone)” as in “to count on”]
jurar = to swear (an oath)
prestar juramento = to pledge / to make an oath
atestiguar = to attest, to bear witness, to provide testimony
maldecir = to curse
decir palabrotas = to curse / to say bad words
preguntar = to question
preguntarse = to wonder [me pregunto si… “I wonder if…”; lit. “I ask myself if”]
hacer una pregunta (a alguien) = to ask (someone) a question
sonreír = to smile, to grin
gorgotear = to gurgle [liquid or water]
borbotar / borbotear = to gurgle [usually in the sense of water]
balbucear = to babble, to gurgle [usually said of babies, or when it’s not clear speech]
gorjear = to squeal, to chirp [usually noises a baby makes, or sometimes small birds]
aullar = to howl, to yelp
tronar = to boom, to yell, to thunder
vociferar = to say loudly
berrear = to bellow
berrear, mugir = to low, to moo (cows)
berrear = to bawl, to cry loudly, to wail
[in some places berrear might be “to snitch” or “to tell a secret”]
emular = to emulate, to imitate
remedar = to mimic, to copy [often in the sense of “parroting” someone’s words to make fun of them]
quejarse (de) = to complain (about)
gruñir = to groan, to grumble, to growl
refunfuñar = to grumble, to gripe, to rabble
aullar, gañir = to yelp [usually said of dogs]
chillar = to shriek, to squeal
chillar = to squeak (a mouse)
chirriar = to squeak (objects, shoes, doors)
divagar = to go on a tangent, to ramble
irse por las ramas = to ramble on [lit. “to go through the branches”, “to beat around the bush”]
irse por la tangente = to go on a tangent
hablar y hablar = to go on and on [lit. “to speak and speak”]
mentir = to lie
fingir = to feign
engañar = to deceive
opinar = to opine, to have an opinion
expresar la opinión = to express an opinion
charlar = to chat, to chitchat
platicar = to chat, to have a chat [usually in the sense of small talk]
conversar = to converse, to have a conversation
parlar = to talk, to have a conversation / to parley (pirates)
chismear = to gossip
comadrear = to gossip
[usually said of women, a bit antiquated but it’s related to la comadre which are close friends of a woman, lit. “co-mother”, so it used to apply more to when women would talk to each other alone]
cotillear = to snoop, to pry / to gossip [more common in Spain; it has the meaning of “to get into someone else’s business”]
protestar = to protest, to object (court of law)
rebatir = to refute, to rebut / to parry
presumir = to brag, to show off
pavonearse = to boast, to brag, to peacock
vanagloriarse = to brag, to toot one’s own horn
fanfarronear = to to brag, to boast
jactarse de = to brag about
presumir de = to brag about
llamar = to call (on the phone) / to call out
lloriquear = to whimper, to snivel, to cry
burlarse de (algo/alguien) = to make fun of (something/someone), to mock, to tease
reírse de (algo/alguien) = to laugh at (something/someone)
mofarse de (algo/alguien) = to deride, to scoff at, to mock
bromear = to joke, to tease
chistear = to tell a joke
tomar el pelo a alguien = to trick someone, to pull someone’s leg, to mess with someone [lit. “to grab/take hair”]
gritar = to scream, to yell
chiflar = to whistle / to boo, to jeer at
rechiflarse = to boo, to jeer
abuchear = to boo, to jeer
vocear = to vocalize, to announce / to yell, to shout
aclamar = to cheer, to cheer on / to acclaim
vitorear = to cheer, to cheer on
aplaudir = to applaud / to cheer
decir = to speak, to say, to tell
tartamudear = to stammer, to stutter
titubear = to hesitate, to stutter
atorarse = to stutter, to get tongue-tied
trabarse la lengua = to get tongue-tied
tropezar al hablar = to stumble while speaking, to have difficulty speaking
introducir = to introduce
reflexionar = to ponder, to reflect on
contemplar = to contemplate, to think about
tomar en cuenta = to keep in mind
decir maravillas de (algo/alguien) = to speak highly of (something/someone)
acusar = to accuse / to charge (legal)
seguir = to follow, to continue
guiar = to guide, to lead
conducir = to conduct, to guide / to drive
criticar = to criticize, to critique
transparentar = to be obvious, to be transparent
translucir = to reveal, to shine through
interrumpir = to interrupt
interponer = to interject
intervenir = to intervene, to step in
abordar = to approach / to address an issue, to broach a subject
admitir = to admit / to allow
divulgar = to divulge, to tell a secret
piar = to chirp, to tweet (birds)
perder el hilo = to lose one’s train of thought
irse apagando = to trail off [lit. “to go diminishing”]
quedar en ridículo = to look ridiculous, to look foolish
poner en evidencia = to show someone up, to put someone in their place
oponerse = to stand against
abogar = to advocate / to vouch for, to intercede on behalf of
emepzar (a) = to start (to)
comenzar (a) = to begin (to), to commence (to)
dejar (de hacer algo) = to stop (doing something)
garantizar = to guarantee
contradecir = to contradict
