Says or Sais: Know the Correct Word Before You Write

Says or sais? The correct spelling is says. The word sais is a common misspelling and is not accepted in standard English. Whether you’re writing an email, essay, report, or social media post, says is the only spelling you should use.

This mistake happens because the pronunciation of says is unusual. Although it is spelled with ay, it is pronounced /sez/. Many people spell the word the way they hear it, which leads to forms like sais.

This confusion is common among English learners, students, and even native speakers who type quickly.Knowing the correct spelling helps you communicate more clearly and avoids errors in academic and professional writing.

In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of says, its pronunciation, why people confuse it with sais, what trusted dictionaries say, and how to remember the correct spelling with simple tips and real-life examples.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

The correct spelling is says.Sais is a common misspelling. It is not recognized by standard English dictionaries and should never be used in formal or informal writing.

Correct Examples

She says she enjoys reading before bed.
My teacher says practice makes progress.
The sign says the museum opens at 10 a.m.
He says he’ll finish the project today.
Everyone says this café serves great coffee.

Incorrect Examples

❌ She sais she enjoys reading. → ✅ She says she enjoys reading.
❌ My dad sais dinner is ready. → ✅ My dad says dinner is ready.
❌ The notice sais parking is full. → ✅ The notice says parking is full.
❌ Who sais that’s true? → ✅ Who says that’s true?
❌ He always sais thank you. → ✅ He always says thank you.

What Does “Says” Mean?

Says is the third-person singular present-tense form of the verb say. It is used with singular subjects such as he, she, it, or the name of one person or thing.

The word means to speak, tell, state, express, or communicate something. It can introduce a statement, opinion, instruction, or quotation.

In everyday English, says is one of the most frequently used verbs because people constantly report what someone speaks or what written information states.

Definition

Says means:

To speak words
To express an idea or opinion
To give information
To state a fact or message

Examples in Context

Emma says she will arrive early.
The weather report says it may rain tonight.
My doctor says I should drink more water.
The label says the product is recyclable.
Every review says the service is excellent.

Unlike says, the spelling sais has no meaning in standard English and should always be corrected to says.

How to Spell and Pronounce “Says”

Correct Spelling

says

IPA Pronunciation

American English: /sez/

British English: /sez/

Simple Pronunciation

It sounds like “sez.”

The pronunciation often surprises learners because it doesn’t match the spelling. English contains many words whose pronunciation developed differently over time. As a result, people sometimes write sais because it looks closer to the way the word sounds.

Remember that pronunciation and spelling do not always follow the same pattern in English. Even though says is pronounced /sez/, the spelling never changes.

Why Do People Confuse “Says” and “Sais”?

The confusion between says and sais comes mainly from pronunciation. The word says is pronounced /sez/, not /sayz/.

Because the spoken sound doesn’t closely match the spelling, many people write it the way they hear it and end up typing sais.

English also contains many words with irregular spelling patterns. Learners often expect words to follow simple phonetic rules, but verbs such as say, said, and says have spellings that developed over centuries.

This difference between spelling and pronunciation causes many common mistakes.

Other reasons include:

Spelling the word by sound instead of by rule.
Fast typing on phones or keyboards.
Limited reading experience.
Confusing say, said, and says.
Missing spelling errors while proofreading.

The good news is that once you remember “say + s = says,” the mistake becomes much easier to avoid.

Is “Sais” a Real Word?

No. Sais is not a standard English word.

Major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and Collins Dictionary recognize says as the correct present-tense form of say. They do not list sais as an accepted spelling.

If sais appears in your writing, readers will usually recognize it as a spelling mistake. Whether you’re writing an essay, email, report, or blog post, replace sais with says before publishing your work.

It’s also worth noting that search engines receive many searches for “says or sais” because people want to verify which spelling is correct. The answer is always the same: use says.

Word Origin (Etymology)

The word say comes from the Old English verb secgan, meaning “to tell,” “to speak,” or “to express.” Over time, the spelling and pronunciation changed as English evolved.

The modern form say eventually developed, and the third-person singular form became says. Although the pronunciation shifted to /sez/, the traditional spelling remained. This is one reason English spelling can seem irregular to learners.

Many common English verbs have similar historical changes. Understanding this history explains why says looks different from the way it sounds but remains the only correct spelling in modern English.

Dictionary Evidence

Every major English dictionary recognizes says as the correct spelling.

Merriam-Webster lists says as the third-person singular present form of say.
Oxford Dictionary recognizes says as the standard spelling in modern English.
Cambridge Dictionary includes says with its pronunciation, grammar, and usage examples.
Collins Dictionary also lists says as the accepted verb form.

None of these trusted dictionaries accepts sais as a standard English word. If you rely on reputable dictionary sources, you’ll always find says as the correct choice.

British English vs American English

Unlike some English words, says has the same spelling in both British and American English. There are no regional spelling differences.

Feature	British English	American English
Correct spelling	says	says
Incorrect spelling	sais	sais
Dictionary spelling	says	says
IPA pronunciation	/sez/	/sez/
Standard usage	says	says

Whether you’re writing for readers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or anywhere else, says is always the correct spelling.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

American English

Use says in every type of writing. It is the standard spelling taught in American schools and used in newspapers, books, websites, and professional documents. Sais is always considered a spelling mistake.

British English

British English follows the same rule. The correct spelling is says, and respected dictionaries use this form. You’ll see it in books, academic writing, government publications, and everyday communication.

Canada

Canadian English also uses says. Whether you’re writing a business email, school paper, or online article, says is the accepted spelling. Avoid sais, as it is not recognized.

Australia

Australian English follows standard English spelling rules, so says is the only correct form. It appears in education, journalism, business writing, and official documents.

International English

If you’re writing for an international audience, always choose says. It is universally accepted across English-speaking countries and understood by readers worldwide.

How to Remember the Correct Spelling

Remembering says is easy with these simple tricks.

Trick 1: Add -s to say

Think of the base verb:

say + s = says

There’s no need to change the spelling.

Trick 2: Use a Simple Phrase

Remember this sentence:

“Everyone says, nobody sais.”

Reading this a few times can help you avoid the mistake.

Trick 3: Think of the Dictionary

If you’re unsure, remember that every major English dictionary lists says, not sais.

Common Mistakes

1. Using “Sais” Instead of “Says”

❌ She sais she likes music.
✅ She says she likes music.

Explanation: Sais is a misspelling and should always be replaced with says.

2. Spelling the Word by Sound

❌ He sez it’s easy.
✅ He says it’s easy.

Explanation: English spelling doesn’t always match pronunciation. Write says, even though it sounds like /sez/.

3. Forgetting the Third-Person “-s”

❌ My brother say hello every morning.
✅ My brother says hello every morning.

Explanation: Singular subjects require says in the present tense.

4. Using “Says” for Past Events

❌ Yesterday she says goodbye.
✅ Yesterday she said goodbye.

Explanation: Use said for the past tense, not says.

5. Using “Says” with Plural Subjects

❌ They says the movie is great.
✅ They say the movie is great.

Explanation: Plural subjects take say, not says.

6. Mixing Up “Say” and “Says”

❌ I says thank you every time.
✅ I say thank you every time.

Explanation: Use say with I, you, we, and they. Use says only with singular third-person subjects.

Everyday Examples

Emails

The manager says the meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.
Your email says the payment was received.
The confirmation message says your order has shipped.

Business Writing

The report says profits increased this quarter.
The contract says both parties must sign before Friday.
The company policy says employees should wear ID badges.

Education

The teacher says the assignment is due Monday.
The textbook says plants need sunlight to grow.
The instructions says → ✅ The instructions say students should answer every question.

Social Media

My friend says this restaurant is worth visiting.
Everyone says the new update is better.
The post says the event starts at 7 p.m.

Daily Conversation

Mom says dinner is ready.
My neighbor says it’s going to rain.
The doctor says I should get more sleep.

Technology

My phone says the battery is almost empty.
The app says a new version is available.
The GPS says we’ll arrive in twenty minutes.

Google Trends & Usage Data

The spelling says appears overwhelmingly more often than sais in Google Search because it is the correct form used in books, websites, news articles, and professional writing.

People usually search “says or sais” to confirm the correct spelling after hearing the word pronounced /sez/. Others want its meaning, pronunciation, grammar, or dictionary confirmation. Since sais is only a misspelling, trusted language resources consistently recommend using says.

Comparison Table

Feature	Says	Sais
Correct spelling	✅ Yes	❌ No
Dictionary word	✅ Yes	❌ No
Standard English	✅ Yes	❌ No
Professional writing	✅ Recommended	❌ Never use
Meaning	Third-person form of say	No accepted meaning
Pronunciation	/sez/	Not standard
Used worldwide	✅ Yes	❌ No

FAQs

Is says the correct spelling?

Yes. Says is the correct spelling and the standard third-person singular form of say.

Is sais a real English word?

No. Sais is a common misspelling and is not accepted in standard English.

Why is says pronounced /sez/?

English pronunciation has changed over time, but the traditional spelling has remained the same.

Which dictionaries recognize says?

Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and Collins Dictionary all recognize says as the correct spelling.

Is there a British spelling of says?

No. British and American English both use says.

Can I use sais in formal writing?

No. Always use says in academic, business, and professional writing.

Is says a verb?

Yes. It is the third-person singular present-tense form of say.

What is the past tense of say?

The past tense is said.

What is the base form of says?

The base form is say.

Do plural subjects use says?

No. Plural subjects use say, while singular third-person subjects use says.

Is says used in both American and British English?

Yes. The spelling is the same in both varieties of English.

How can I remember the correct spelling?

Think “say + s = says” and remember the phrase “Everyone says, nobody sais.”

Final Verdict

When comparing says or sais, the correct choice is always says. It is the accepted spelling in American English, British English, Canadian English, Australian English, and other varieties of standard English. The spelling sais is simply a common typo caused by the word’s pronunciation.

Trusted dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, and Collins Dictionary, all recognize says as the correct form. Whether you’re writing an email, school assignment, article, or business document, use says every time.

A simple way to remember it is “say + s = says.” Once you know this rule, you’ll avoid one of the most common English spelling mistakes and write with greater confidence.

Bilal Hussain