contarle
/kon-tár-le/
to tell him/her
Use contarle when someone is narrating information or a story to another person.
contarle(Verb)
to tell him/her
?narrating a story or information
,to tell you (formal)
?narrating a story or information
to narrate to him/her
?formal context
📝 In Action
Quiero contarle un secreto importante.
A1I want to tell him/her an important secret.
Es mejor no contarle toda la verdad todavía.
A2It's better not to tell him/her the whole truth yet.
¿Puedes contarle lo que pasó en la reunión?
A1Can you tell him/her what happened at the meeting?
💡 Grammar Points
Verb + Attached Pronoun
This word is the base verb 'contar' (to tell) combined with the pronoun 'le' (to him/her/you formal). This attachment is mandatory when the verb is in the infinitive (unconjugated form).
The Stress Mark
When you attach a pronoun to a two-syllable infinitive like 'contar', you must add an accent mark ('tilde') to keep the original stress on the last syllable: contárle.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Contarle (pronounced CON-tar-le)"
Correction: Contarle (pronounced con-TÁR-le). Always place the accent on the syllable where the stress naturally falls in the base infinitive (contAR).
⭐ Usage Tips
Choosing the Right Spot
You can say 'Quiero contarle' (attached) or 'Le quiero contar' (separated before the conjugated verb). Both are correct and very common.
Contarle can also mean 'to count for him/her,' often involving tallying items on behalf of someone else.
contarle(Verb)
to count for him/her
?tallying objects or items
,to count for you (formal)
?tallying objects or items
to include him/her
?in a total or group (usually reflexive: contarse)
📝 In Action
Necesito contarle las monedas que recogimos.
B1I need to count the coins we collected for him/her.
Después de contarle las ovejas, el niño se durmió.
B2After counting the sheep for him, the child fell asleep.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Beneficiary' Pronoun
In this meaning, 'le' shows who benefits from the action of counting. You are counting the items, and the person (him/her/you) is the one receiving the result of that count.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
The context usually makes it clear if 'contar' means 'to tell a story' or 'to count numbers.' If numbers or objects are mentioned, it means 'to count.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: contarle
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'contarle' in the sense of 'to count'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'contarle' have an accent mark but 'contar' doesn't?
The accent mark is added when you attach a pronoun like 'le' to an infinitive verb (like 'contar'). It ensures the stress stays on the last syllable of the verb, just like in the original form, helping you pronounce it correctly.
Is 'contarle' always used with the indirect object pronoun 'le'?
Yes. The 'le' in 'contarle' is mandatory and means 'to him,' 'to her,' or 'to formal you.' If you just want to say 'to tell' without specifying who, you would use the simple infinitive 'contar' (e.g., 'Contar es fácil').