Is there a Spanish equivalent to the quotative like?

Question

In English, there's a "quotative like" that can be used instead of "said" to indicate that you're paraphrasing the quote instead of saying it word for word. ("[Name] was like '[paraphrased quote.]'"). Is there something like this in Spanish?

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Apr 21, 2017

Answer 1

You might try quedarse como.

Pedro se quedó como ¿Qué?

But I'm not sure how widely this would be understood.

This is one English expression that drives me loca. - Daniela2041, Apr 21, 2017

Along with all the associated uses of "like." I'm like so tired of them. - jtaniel, Apr 21, 2017

Answer 2

Él dijo algo parecido a; El dijo algo más o menos así; You can also say, "el dio a entender que", "el quiso decir que", when you don't use the exact words that he/she said, but you explain what he/she meant.

De acuerdo. - polenta1, Apr 23, 2017

Answer 3

Él dijo "algo como" que Dios es de sexo masculino. He didnt say exactly "Dios es de sexo masculino". Since you don't remember the exact words you can say "algo como"

You could also say something like:

Él dijo que la televisión es algo negativo. No me acuerdo sus palabras exactas pero ése era el concepto. I guess the latter is too long, isn't it?