Если хочешь что-то сказать, не намекай, а говори прямо.

Because Russian often omits subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

• хочешь = you want (singular, informal)

So Если хочешь... naturally means If you want... without needing ты.

You could add ты for emphasis:

• Если ты хочешь что-то сказать... = If you want to say something...

That can sound more pointed or emotional.

After хотеть (to want), Russian normally uses an infinitive, just like English uses to + verb.

• хочешь сказать = want to say
• хочу поехать = I want to go
• хотим знать = we want to know

So Если хочешь что-то сказать literally follows the normal pattern: If you want to say something.

This is a very common question.

In this sentence, что-то suggests some specific thing is on your mind, even if it is not named.

• Если хочешь что-то сказать... = if you have something to say

By contrast, что-нибудь is more like anything / something-or-other, less specific:

• Если хочешь что-нибудь сказать... = if you want to say anything

So the original sentence assumes the person really does have a particular point, and the speaker is saying: Don’t hint—just say it directly.

There are two commas for two different reasons.

1. Если хочешь что-то сказать, ...
   The clause beginning with если (if) is a subordinate clause, and it is separated by a comma from the main clause.

2. не намекай, а говори прямо
   There is a comma before а because а joins two contrasting parts:

   • не намекай = don’t hint
   • а говори прямо = but say it directly / instead say it directly

So the punctuation is completely standard.

They are imperative forms: commands or instructions.

Specifically, they are:

• не намекай = don’t hint
• говори = speak / say

These are singular informal imperatives, used when speaking to one person with ты.

If you were addressing several people, or using formal вы, you would say:

• не намекайте, а говорите прямо

Both а and но can be translated as but, but they are not used in exactly the same way.

Here а is better because it marks a contrast with a kind of replacement:

• не намекай, а говори прямо
  = don’t hint; instead, speak directly

This is a very common Russian pattern:

• не X, а Y = not X, but Y

Но would sound less natural here because the meaning is not just simple contradiction; it is more like correcting the preferred way to speak.

Because in Russian, negative imperatives are very often formed with the imperfective aspect.

• не намекай = don’t hint / don’t go hinting

This usually sounds more natural than trying to use a perfective form in a sentence like this.

Also, the speaker is talking about manner of speaking, not one completed act. The idea is:

• don’t speak indirectly
• speak plainly instead

That fits the imperfective well.

Both are possible, but they are slightly different.

• говори прямо = speak directly / be direct
  This focuses on the manner of speaking.
• скажи прямо = say it directly / just say it plainly
  This focuses more on one specific statement.

In your sentence, говори прямо sounds like general advice or instruction about how to express yourself.

If someone is impatient in one конкретe situation, they might also say:

• Не намекай, скажи прямо.

That would mean something like Don’t hint—just say it plainly.

Намекать means to hint, to allude, or to imply something indirectly.

Examples:

• Он намекает, что недоволен.
  = He is hinting that he is unhappy.
• Не намекай — говори прямо.
  = Don’t hint—say it directly.

It can also be used with на + accusative:

• намекать на проблему = to hint at a problem
• намекать на кого-то = to hint at someone / allude to someone

In your sentence, it is used without a stated object because the meaning is general: don’t hint.

Here прямо means directly, plainly, or frankly.

It does not mean physical straight in this sentence.

Compare:

• Иди прямо. = Go straight.
• Говори прямо. = Speak directly / Say it plainly.

So говори прямо is about being open and not indirect.

Because that is the most neutral and natural word order here:

• говори прямо

Russian word order is flexible, but different orders can shift emphasis.

For example:

• Говори прямо. = neutral
• Прямо говори. = stronger emphasis on directly
• Говори ты прямо. = marked/emphatic, often emotional

So the original version is the most standard one.

It is fairly direct and can sound a little sharp, depending on tone.

• In a calm tone, it can mean: Please be straightforward.
• In an irritated tone, it can mean: Stop hinting and just say it.

Russian often allows this kind of directness more naturally than English, but it still depends a lot on context and intonation.

A softer version could be:

• Если хочешь что-то сказать, лучше говори прямо.
  = If you want to say something, it’s better to say it directly.

Yes. Then you would change the imperative forms to -йте:

• Если хотите что-то сказать, не намекайте, а говорите прямо.

That means:

• If you want to say something, don’t hint; say it directly.

So the original sentence is for one person, informal, while this version is for formal singular or plural.