Understanding how to express “tell” in Spanish is crucial for effective communication. Unlike English, Spanish utilizes various verbs to convey the nuances of telling, depending on the context.
This guide provides a comprehensive exploration of these verbs, their conjugations, and their appropriate usage. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will equip you with the knowledge and practice necessary to confidently use “tell” in Spanish.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “Tell” in Spanish
- Structural Breakdown
- Key Verbs for “Tell” in Spanish
- Examples of Usage
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Introduction
The English verb “tell” seems simple enough, but its translation into Spanish requires a nuanced understanding of context and intention. Spanish offers a variety of verbs to express the act of conveying information, each with its own specific connotations.
Mastering these verbs is essential for expressing yourself accurately and naturally in Spanish. This article will guide you through the intricacies of choosing the right verb for “tell” in various situations, providing clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises to solidify your understanding.
Whether you are a student, a traveler, or simply a language enthusiast, this comprehensive guide will help you confidently navigate the Spanish language.
Definition of “Tell” in Spanish
The English verb “tell” encompasses a broad range of meanings related to conveying information. It can mean to narrate, to inform, to command, or to reveal. In Spanish, these different nuances are expressed through different verbs. There isn’t a single, direct translation of “tell.” Instead, you must choose the verb that best fits the specific context of the sentence. Understanding these nuances is key to mastering the art of communication in Spanish. The most common verbs used to translate “tell” are decir, contar, informar, revelar, and notificar.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of sentences using these verbs often follows a similar pattern to English, but with some important differences. Typically, the structure involves a subject (the person doing the telling), the verb (decir, contar, etc.), and the object (the thing being told). However, Spanish often requires the use of indirect object pronouns to indicate *to whom* something is being told. These pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) are crucial for clarity and grammatical correctness. Additionally, Spanish sentence structure is more flexible than English, allowing for variations in word order, although the subject-verb-object order is frequently used and easily understood.
Understanding verb conjugations is also critical. Each verb must be conjugated correctly to match the subject and tense of the sentence.
This requires familiarity with Spanish verb conjugation rules, including regular and irregular verbs. Pay close attention to the correct placement of indirect object pronouns, as they typically precede the conjugated verb in simple tenses and are attached to the infinitive or gerund in compound tenses.
Key Verbs for “Tell” in Spanish
Decir: To Say or To Tell
Decir is the most versatile and common translation of “tell” and “say.” It’s used for general statements, commands, and expressing what someone said. It is an irregular verb, so its conjugation needs to be memorized. The verb decir can be used in a wide range of contexts, making it a fundamental verb to learn for any Spanish speaker. In addition to its basic meaning, decir can also be used in various idiomatic expressions.
Contar: To Tell a Story or Count
Contar is used to “tell” a story, recount an event, or narrate something. It also means “to count.” The context will usually make it clear which meaning is intended. This verb is also useful when you are “telling” someone something that involves numbers, like counting money or recounting items. Contar is a regular -ar verb that undergoes a stem change (o to ue) in some forms.
Informar: To Inform
Informar specifically means “to inform” someone of something. It’s used when conveying factual information or news. This verb implies a more formal or official context than decir or contar. Informar is a regular -ar verb, making its conjugation straightforward and predictable. It’s a valuable verb to use in professional or academic settings.
Revelar: To Reveal
Revelar means “to reveal” or “disclose” something that was previously unknown or secret. This verb carries a connotation of unveiling hidden information. Revelar is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate and use in various contexts. It is often used in contexts where a secret or truth is being brought to light.
Notificar: To Notify
Notificar means “to notify” someone, usually in an official or formal manner. This verb is often used in legal, administrative, or business contexts. Notificar implies a formal communication of important information. It is a regular -ar verb, making it relatively simple to conjugate and use correctly. Proper use of notificar can add a layer of professionalism to your Spanish communication.
Examples of Usage
This section provides numerous examples of how to use each verb in different contexts. Pay close attention to the sentence structure and the use of indirect object pronouns.
Decir Examples
Decir is a versatile verb with many applications. The following table provides examples of its usage in different tenses and contexts.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I tell him the truth. | Le digo la verdad. |
| She told me she was tired. | Me dijo que estaba cansada. |
| They will tell us everything. | Nos dirán todo. |
| Tell me what happened. | Dime qué pasó. |
| He didn’t tell me anything. | No me dijo nada. |
| We told them to be quiet. | Les dijimos que se callaran. |
| I want to tell you something important. | Quiero decirte algo importante. |
| She is telling the truth. | Está diciendo la verdad. |
| They are telling stories. | Están diciendo cuentos. |
| The sign says “Do not enter.” | El letrero dice “No entrar.” |
| What did you say? | ¿Qué dijiste? |
| I have already told you. | Ya te lo he dicho. |
| He had told me before. | Me lo había dicho antes. |
| If I were to tell you, you wouldn’t believe it. | Si te lo dijera, no lo creerías. |
| They told us that the meeting was canceled. | Nos dijeron que la reunión fue cancelada. |
| Tell her to call me back. | Dile que me devuelva la llamada. |
| I’m going to tell him the news. | Voy a decirle la noticia. |
| She told me a secret. | Me dijo un secreto. |
| We tell them everything. | Les decimos todo. |
| You (formal) told me that you were coming. | Usted me dijo que vendría. |
| They tell lies. | Dicen mentiras. |
| He always tells the truth. | Siempre dice la verdad. |
| Tell me your name. | Dime tu nombre. |
| She didn’t tell me where she was going. | No me dijo a dónde iba. |
| I will tell you later. | Te diré más tarde. |
Contar Examples
Contar is used for telling stories, recounting events, and counting. The following table illustrates various uses of contar.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| He told me a story. | Me contó una historia. |
| She is counting the money. | Está contando el dinero. |
| They will tell us about their trip. | Nos contarán sobre su viaje. |
| Tell me what happened at the party. | Cuéntame qué pasó en la fiesta. |
| I told him everything that happened. | Le conté todo lo que pasó. |
| She’s going to tell us a fairy tale. | Nos va a contar un cuento de hadas. |
| Have you told him the news? | ¿Le has contado la noticia? |
| I am counting the days until vacation. | Estoy contando los días hasta las vacaciones. |
| They recounted the events of the battle. | Contaron los eventos de la batalla. |
| Can you tell me a joke? | ¿Puedes contarme un chiste? |
| He counted to ten. | Contó hasta diez. |
| I have to tell you something funny. | Tengo que contarte algo gracioso. |
| She had already told the story. | Ya había contado la historia. |
| If I were to tell you the secret, you wouldn’t believe me. | Si te contara el secreto, no me creerías. |
| They told us about their adventures. | Nos contaron sobre sus aventuras. |
| Tell me about your day. | Cuéntame sobre tu día. |
| I’m going to count the votes. | Voy a contar los votos. |
| She told me a lie. | Me contó una mentira. |
| We counted the number of guests. | Contamos el número de invitados. |
| You (formal) told me the legend. | Usted me contó la leyenda. |
| They are counting the stars. | Están contando las estrellas. |
| He is going to tell a story about his childhood. | Va a contar una historia sobre su infancia. |
| Tell me how many you see. | Cuéntame cuántos ves. |
| She didn’t tell me the whole story. | No me contó toda la historia. |
| I will tell you the ending later. | Te contaré el final más tarde. |
Informar Examples
Informar is used to convey factual information. Consider the following examples.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I will inform you of the results. | Le informaré de los resultados. |
| She informed me about the meeting. | Me informó sobre la reunión. |
| They will inform us of any changes. | Nos informarán de cualquier cambio. |
| Inform me as soon as you know. | Infórmame tan pronto como sepas. |
| I informed him of the situation. | Le informé de la situación. |
| She will inform you by email. | Te informará por correo electrónico. |
| Have they informed you of the decision? | ¿Te han informado de la decisión? |
| We need to inform the authorities. | Necesitamos informar a las autoridades. |
| They informed us that the flight was delayed. | Nos informaron que el vuelo estaba retrasado. |
| The company will inform its employees. | La empresa informará a sus empleados. |
| He informed me of his plans. | Me informó de sus planes. |
| I have to inform you that you have won. | Tengo que informarte que has ganado. |
| She had informed me beforehand. | Me había informado de antemano. |
| If I were to inform you of everything, it would take too long. | Si te informara de todo, tomaría demasiado tiempo. |
| They informed us about the risks. | Nos informaron sobre los riesgos. |
| Inform me immediately if there are any problems. | Infórmame inmediatamente si hay algún problema. |
| I am going to inform the police. | Voy a informar a la policía. |
| She informed me of the new regulations. | Me informó de las nuevas regulaciones. |
| We will inform them of the changes. | Les informaremos de los cambios. |
| You (formal) informed me about the incident. | Usted me informó sobre el incidente. |
| They are informing the public. | Están informando al público. |
| He is informing the manager. | Está informando al gerente. |
| Inform me of your decision. | Infórmame de tu decisión. |
| She didn’t inform me of the deadline. | No me informó de la fecha límite. |
| I will inform you of the details later. | Te informaré de los detalles más tarde. |
Revelar Examples
Revelar is used to reveal secrets or previously unknown information. Here are some examples.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| He revealed the truth. | Reveló la verdad. |
| She revealed her secret. | Reveló su secreto. |
| They will reveal the results tomorrow. | Revelarán los resultados mañana. |
| Reveal your intentions. | Revela tus intenciones. |
| I revealed my feelings to her. | Le revelé mis sentimientos. |
| She revealed a hidden talent. | Reveló un talento oculto. |
| Have they revealed the mystery? | ¿Han revelado el misterio? |
| We must reveal the corruption. | Debemos revelar la corrupción. |
| They revealed that they were married. | Revelaron que estaban casados. |
| The investigation will reveal the truth. | La investigación revelará la verdad. |
| He revealed the location of the treasure. | Reveló la ubicación del tesoro. |
| I have to reveal something important. | Tengo que revelar algo importante. |
| She had revealed her identity. | Había revelado su identidad. |
| If I were to reveal the ending, it would ruin the story. | Si revelara el final, arruinaría la historia. |
| They revealed the secret ingredient. | Revelaron el ingrediente secreto. |
| Reveal your true self. | Revela tu verdadero ser. |
| I am going to reveal my plan. | Voy a revelar mi plan. |
| She revealed the answer to the riddle. | Reveló la respuesta al acertijo. |
| We will reveal the winner soon. | Revelaremos al ganador pronto. |
| You (formal) revealed the truth to me. | Usted me reveló la verdad. |
| They are revealing the new product. | Están revelando el nuevo producto. |
| He is going to reveal his secret identity. | Va a revelar su identidad secreta. |
| Reveal what you know. | Revela lo que sabes. |
| She didn’t reveal her intentions. | No reveló sus intenciones. |
| I will reveal the details later. | Revelaré los detalles más tarde. |
Notificar Examples
Notificar is used for formal notifications. Examine the following examples.
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I will notify you of the decision. | Le notificaré la decisión. |
| She notified me of the change. | Me notificó del cambio. |
| They will notify us by mail. | Nos notificarán por correo. |
| Notify me immediately. | Notifícame inmediatamente. |
| I notified him of his rights. | Le notifiqué sus derechos. |
| She’s going to notify you in writing. | Te va a notificar por escrito. |
| Have they notified you about the hearing? | ¿Te han notificado sobre la audiencia? |
| We need to notify the insurance company. | Necesitamos notificar a la compañía de seguros. |
| They notified us that the application was approved. | Nos notificaron que la solicitud fue aprobada. |
| The court will notify the defendant. | El tribunal notificará al acusado. |
| He notified me of the deadline. | Me notificó la fecha límite. |
| I have to notify you of a problem. | Tengo que notificarte un problema. |
| She had already notified the authorities. | Ya había notificado a las autoridades. |
| If I were to notify you of every detail, we’d be here all day. | Si te notificara de cada detalle, estaríamos aquí todo el día. |
| They notified us about the new policy. | Nos notificaron sobre la nueva política. |
| Notify me if anything changes. | Notifícame si algo cambia. |
| I am going to notify my lawyer. | Voy a notificar a mi abogado. |
| She notified me of the error. | Me notificó del error. |
| We will notify them of the meeting time. | Les notificaremos la hora de la reunión. |
| You (formal) notified me of the cancellation. | Usted me notificó de la cancelación. |
| They are notifying all the residents. | Están notificando a todos los residentes. |
| He is going to notify the shareholders. | Va a notificar a los accionistas. |
| Notify me when you arrive. | Notifícame cuando llegues. |
| She didn’t notify me in time. | No me notificó a tiempo. |
| I will notify you as soon as possible. | Te notificaré lo antes posible. |
Usage Rules
There are specific rules governing the use of each verb. Decir is generally used for direct quotes or statements. Contar is used for narratives or counting. Informar is used for factual information. Revelar is used for secrets or previously unknown information. Notificar is used for formal announcements or legal notices. Always consider the context and the level of formality when choosing the appropriate verb. The indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) is crucial when indicating *to whom* something is being told. Ensure the pronoun agrees with the recipient of the information.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using decir for all instances of “tell,” even when contar, informar, revelar, or notificar would be more appropriate. Another frequent error is omitting or misusing indirect object pronouns. Pay attention to these common pitfalls to improve your accuracy.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo digo una historia. | Yo cuento una historia. | Decir is not used for telling stories; contar is the correct verb. |
| Digo a él la verdad. | Le digo la verdad. | The indirect object pronoun le is required to indicate “to him.” |
| Informé de la situación. | Le informé de la situación. | The indirect object pronoun le is needed to show who you informed. |
| Revelé el secreto a Maria. | Le revelé el secreto a Maria. | The indirect object pronoun le is required to indicate to whom the secret was revealed. |
| Notifiqué la decisión. | Le notifiqué la decisión. | The indirect object pronoun is needed to show who was notified. |
Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of decir, contar, informar, revelar, or notificar.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Ella ____ la verdad. (tell) | dice |
| 2. Yo ____ una historia a mi hijo. (tell) | cuento |
| 3. Ellos ____ sobre el accidente. (inform) | informaron |
| 4. Él ____ su secreto. (reveal) | reveló |
| 5. Nosotros ____ a los clientes. (notify) | notificaremos |
| 6. ¿Qué ____ tú? (say) | dices |
| 7. Me ____ que no hay clase mañana. (tell) | dijeron |
| 8. Quiero ____ un cuento. (tell) | contar |
| 9. Te ____ si hay cambios. (inform) | informaré |
| 10. Debes ____ la verdad. (reveal) | revelar |
| 11. Vamos a ____ a todos los empleados. (notify) | notificar |
| 12. Él ____ la hora. (tell) | dice |
| 13. Me ____ una mentira. (tell) | contó |
| 14. Me ____ de la situación. (inform) | informaron |
| 15. ____ tu nombre. (tell) | Di |
| 16. ____ a Juan que venga. (tell) | Dile |
| 17. ____ todo lo que sabes. (reveal) | Revela |
| 18. ____ a los vecinos sobre la reunión. (notify) | Notifica |
| 19. ____ los números. (count) | Cuenta |
| 20. Me ____ que no vendrías. (tell) | dijeron |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, explore idiomatic expressions using these verbs. For example, “decir verdades” means “to speak frankly” or “to tell hard truths.” Another advanced topic is the use of the subjunctive mood after verbs of telling, especially when expressing doubt or uncertainty. For example, “No creo que me digan la verdad” (I don’t think they’ll tell me the truth). Understanding these nuances requires a deeper engagement with the Spanish language and culture.
Another advanced topic is the use of reflexive pronouns with certain verbs of telling to indicate that the action is being done to oneself. For example, “Me digo a mí mismo que todo estará bien” (I tell myself that everything will be alright). Finally, explore the use of these verbs in different regional dialects of Spanish, as usage and connotations can vary.
FAQ
- Q: Which verb is the most common translation of “tell”?
A: Decir is the most common and versatile translation of “tell” in Spanish. It’s used for general statements, commands, and expressing what someone said.
- Q: When should I use contar instead of decir?
A: Use contar when you are “telling” a story, recounting an event, or narrating something. It also means “to count,” so context is important.
- Q: What’s the difference between informar and decir?
A: Informar specifically means “to inform” someone of something, conveying factual information or news. Decir is more general and can be used for any type of statement.
- Q: When do I use indirect object pronouns with these verbs?
A: Indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) are crucial when indicating *to whom* something is being told. They usually precede the conjugated verb.
- Q: How do I conjugate these verbs?
A: Decir is an irregular verb, so its conjugation must be memorized. Contar, informar, revelar, and notificar are regular -ar verbs, but contar has a stem change (o to ue) in certain forms.
- Q: What does revelar mean?
A: Revelar means “to reveal” or “disclose” something that was previously unknown or secret.
- Q: What is the meaning of notificar?
A: Notificar means “to notify” someone, usually in an official or formal manner.
- Q: Can you give an example of using the subjunctive mood with these verbs?
A: “No creo que me digan la verdad” (I don’t think they’ll tell me the truth). The subjunctive “digan” is used because there is doubt involved.
Conclusion
Mastering the nuances of “tell” in Spanish requires understanding the different verbs available and their specific contexts. Decir, contar, informar, revelar, and notificar each convey a different shade of meaning, and choosing the right verb is crucial for effective communication. By studying the examples and practicing the exercises in this guide, you can confidently express yourself in Spanish. Remember to pay attention to indirect object pronouns and verb conjugations for accuracy. Keep practicing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process.