besagen

1. 1

   to say, state, have it — said of texts or utterances, not of persons

   • Eine neue Studie besagt, daß Kaffee gesund ist.

     A new study says that coffee is good for you.

     Tatoeba · Waldelfe · CC BY 2.0 FR

   • Gibt es eine Regel, die besagt, dass ich das nicht darf?

     Is there a rule that says I can't do this?

     Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR

2. 2

   to mean, signify

   • Aber das will nichts besagen.

     But that doesn't mean anything.

     Tatoeba · brauchinet · CC BY 2.0 FR

3. 3

   to mention, note

Forms in lighter type are the ones German always makes identical: wir and sie use the infinitive, ihr matches er, and in the past ich matches er.