The German verb "sagen" means "to say" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "sagen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "sagen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sage |
| du | you (informal) | sagst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sagt |
| wir | we | sagen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sagt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sagen |
Er sagt immer die Antwort.
He always says the answer.
How to Conjugate "sagen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sagte |
| du | you (informal) | sagtest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sagte |
| wir | we | sagten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sagtet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sagten |
Er sagte, dass er kommt.
He said that he is coming.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gesagt |
| du | you (informal) | hast gesagt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gesagt |
| wir | we | haben gesagt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gesagt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gesagt |
Er hat nichts gesagt.
He has said nothing.
How to Conjugate "sagen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gesagt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gesagt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gesagt |
| wir | we | hatten gesagt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gesagt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gesagt |
Er hatte das gesagt.
He had said that.
How to Conjugate "sagen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde sagen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst sagen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird sagen |
| wir | we | werden sagen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet sagen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden sagen |
Er wird seine Meinung sagen.
He will say his opinion.
How to Conjugate "sagen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sage |
| du | you (informal) | sagest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sage |
| wir | we | sagen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | saget |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sagen |
Er meint, er sage das.
He thinks that he is saying that.
How to Conjugate "sagen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | sagte |
| du | you (informal) | sagtest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | sagte |
| wir | we | sagten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | sagtet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | sagten |
Er sagte gerne seine Meinung.
He would like to say his opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions About "sagen"
Is "sagen" regular or irregular in German?
"Sagen" is a regular German verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "sagen" mean in English?
The German verb "sagen" means "to say" in English.
How do you conjugate "sagen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → sage, du → sagst, er/sie/es → sagt, wir → sagen, ihr → sagt, sie/Sie → sagen.
How many tenses does "sagen" have in German?
"Sagen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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