decírselo
“decírselo” means “to tell it to him/her” in Spanish (Combines the action of telling, the thing being told (it), and the recipient (him/her/you formal/them).).
to tell it to him/her, to say it to themAlso: to communicate it to you (formal)
📝 In Action
Necesito decírselo antes de que se vaya.
A2I need to tell it to him/her before he/she leaves.
¿Vas a decírselo tú o lo hago yo?
B1Are you going to tell it to them, or should I do it?
Era tan importante que tuve que decírselo de inmediato.
B2It was so important that I had to tell it to him immediately.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: decírselo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'decírselo'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
'Decir' comes from the Latin 'dicere', meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'. The added pronouns 'se' and 'lo' are later additions derived from Latin object forms, combining into this single useful word.
First recorded: The base verb 'decir' has been used since Old Spanish (around the 10th century). Compound forms like 'decírselo' became standardized as Spanish grammar developed the fixed order for object pronouns (Indirect before Direct).
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'decírselo' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is needed because the pronouns 'se' and 'lo' are attached to the end of the infinitive 'decir'. This shifts the word from two syllables to four, and the accent ensures the stress stays on the last syllable of the base verb, just like in 'decir'.
Does 'decírselo' always mean 'to tell it to him'?
Yes, the core meaning is 'to tell *it* to *someone*'. The 'someone' can be him, her, them, or you (formal/usted), depending on the context, because 'se' covers all those possibilities.