"me dijeron" and not "me dijieron"

Question

What's the difference ?

Pleaser remember that correct spelling and capitalization are mandatory on this site, welcome to the forum:) - 00494d19, Jan 19, 2011

Answer 1

See for yourself: decir

Conjugation is a fact, and there isn't always a reason.

Note: the conjugator shows irregular forms in Red.

Answer 2

It has to do with the fact that in the old pronunciation of this verb (and all other "decir" based ones, like "bendecir"), plus those ending in "-ducir" (e.g. conducir) and "traer" (and compounts), the palatalized consonantic sounds absorbed the semiconsonant /j/ in the diphthong "ie", so that "jie" (which was pronounced differently) simplified to "je".

If you don't understand the technicalities of the explanation, just remember what verbs do this: all verbs and compounds of "decir", "traer" and verbs ending in "-ducir".