¿Qué dices? v. ¿qué decis?

Question

Does anyone know the difference between qué dices? and qué decis?

Apparently qué dices is a standard method of asking what someone says, but I heard someone say qué decis and don't know if it is the same or if it is of a different dialect, does anyone know?

Answer 1

¿Qué dices? = What are you saying?/ What do you say? is using the familiar form or conjuagtion of the verb decir

¿Qué dices? is conjugated for tú which is the familiar form and only used to address people you know well like your family, close friends and children/people younger than you

¿Qué decis? is the plural* form used only in Spain to mean What are you* saying?

If you wish to address a group of people you can say: ¿Qué dicen? which would be understood in Spain and South America

I hope that this helps You

Note that when saying "decís" as plural, it is vosotros and not voseo. - NikkiLR, Aug 7, 2010

Oh, I didn't think about plural. I guess we don't have enough context to tell. - KevinB, Aug 7, 2010

Not at all... so I guess just explain both. - NikkiLR, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 2

Decis is from the vos form. It corresponds to the tú form, and is used in parts of Spain, Central America, Argentina, and other parts of Andean South America. Not very common anymore.

Here's a Wikipedia article that talks about vos:

Vos

Vos is not used in Spain. - NikkiLR, Aug 7, 2010

The Spanish Wikipedia says it is used in parts of Spain, including Andalucia. - KevinB, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 3

Decís is the voseo conjugation (voseo), so you would hear it said like that in Argentina and other such countries.