The analysis of the means of introducing direct speech in Ovid’s poem “Metamorphoses” makes it possible to distinguish three groups: speech verbs, noun phrases and elliptical constructions. The main markers of direct speech are speech verbs divided into hyperonyms (dico, aio, inquam, fari) denoting bare fact of speaking, and hyponyms with additional semantic shade. Among them, the most common are hyperonyms, especially dico, while aio and inquam are second and third respectively. The minimum frequency is shown by fari and its composites (adfari, profari). Noun phrases that include nouns with semantics of speech (e.g, ora solvere, voces dare) are on the second place as to their frequency. Alone in “Metamorphoses”, elliptical constructions (e.g, talibus genitor, tum illa, etc.) are inherent in dialogues. The place of markers regarding direct language may vary, but most often, unlike prose, they are intraposed, which is conditioned by the peculiarities of poetic syntax. Particularly characteristic intraposition is for inquam. Unlike hyperonyms, hyponyms as well as other means of introducing direct speech are usually preposed.