Inklingo

contárselo

kon-TAR-seh-lo/konˈtaɾselo/

contárselo means to tell it to him/her/them in Spanish (sharing information or a story).

to tell it to him/her/them

Also: to count it for him/her/them
VerbB1irregular (o to ue change) ar
A friendly person whispering a secret into another person's ear in a colorful, storybook style.
past Participlecontádoselo
infinitivecontárselo
gerundcontándoselo

📝 In Action

Tengo un gran secreto y quiero contárselo.

A2

I have a big secret and I want to tell it to her.

Si descubres la verdad, vas a contárselo a tus padres.

B1

If you find out the truth, you are going to tell it to your parents.

¿Puedes contárselo tú? A mí me da vergüenza.

B1

Can you tell it to them? I'm embarrassed.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • decírselo (to say it to them)
  • relatárselo (to narrate it to them)

Antonyms

  • ocultárselo (to hide it from them)
  • callárselo (to keep it to oneself)

Common Collocations

  • contárselo todoto tell them everything
  • ir a contárseloto go tell them

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescuenten
vosotroscontéis
él/ella/ustedcuente
nosotroscontemos
cuentes
yocuente

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescontaran
vosotroscontarais
él/ella/ustedcontara
nosotroscontáramos
contaras
yocontara

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescontaron
vosotroscontasteis
él/ella/ustedcontó
nosotroscontamos
contaste
yoconté

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescontaban
vosotroscontabais
él/ella/ustedcontaba
nosotroscontábamos
contabas
yocontaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescuentan
vosotroscontáis
él/ella/ustedcuenta
nosotroscontamos
cuentas
yocuento

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: contárselo

Question 1 of 1

What does the 'lo' in 'contárselo' represent?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
dáselopónselo
📚 Etymology

Derived from the Spanish verb 'contar' (from Latin 'computāre', meaning to calculate), plus the pronouns 'se' (indirect object) and 'lo' (direct object).

First recorded: 13th century (base verb)

Cognates (Related words)

English: computeFrench: compter

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'contárselo' mean telling a secret to 'them' (plural)?

Yes! The 'se' in 'contárselo' is very flexible. It can mean to him, to her, to you (formal), or even to them.