"Say" is to produce words; "mean" is the intention or meaning behind them.
To express something with words. To utter or state something.
She said she would call me back, but she never did.
Ella dijo que me devolveria la llamada, pero nunca lo hizo.
What did he say? I could not hear him.
¿Que dijo el? No pude escucharlo.
Do not say anything — just listen for now.
No digas nada. Solo escucha por ahora.
To intend to say, to have the significance of, or to intend to do.
What do you mean? I do not understand.
¿Que quieres decir? No entiendo.
I did not mean to hurt your feelings. I am sorry.
No quise herir tus sentimientos. Lo siento.
What does this word mean in English?
¿Que significa esta palabra en ingles?
Common mistake
Classic false-cognate trap: "¿Que quieres decir?" translates to "What do you mean?" — NOT "What do you want to say?" (sounds odd in English). Also: "¿Que significa esta palabra?" = "What does this word mean?" — NOT "What does this word say?" A word does not "say" anything by itself; it "means" something.
Trick to remember it
Two-question rule: when you want to understand someone's INTENTION, use "mean" ("What did you mean by that?"). When you are quoting the WORDS someone used, use "say" ("What did she say?"). Say = the words themselves. Mean = the intention or significance.
Quick rule
Say = produce words. Mean = intend / signify.
Did you know?
"Mean" is one of the most polysemous words in English: it can mean "to intend to say", "to signify", "to intend to do", "cruel" (adjective: "a mean person"), or "average" (noun in math: "the mean of the data"). The same word, five completely different uses.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
What does "ephemeral" _____? I have never seen that word before.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She _____ she would be here by noon, but it is already 1pm.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Say = produce words. Mean = intend / signify.
Classic false-cognate trap: "¿Que quieres decir?" translates to "What do you mean?" — NOT "What do you want to say?" (sounds odd in English). Also: "¿Que significa esta palabra?" = "What does this word mean?" — NOT "What does this word say?" A word does not "say" anything by itself; it "means" something.
Two-question rule: when you want to understand someone's INTENTION, use "mean" ("What did you mean by that?"). When you are quoting the WORDS someone used, use "say" ("What did she say?"). Say = the words themselves. Mean = the intention or significance.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy