decirle
/deh-SEER-leh/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Voy a decirle la verdad.
A1I'm going to tell him/her the truth.
¿Puedes decirle que venga, por favor?
A2Can you tell him/her to come, please?
No olvides decirle a tu mamá que la quieres.
A2Don't forget to tell your mom that you love her.
Sería mejor decirle todo mañana.
B1It would be better to tell him/her everything tomorrow.
💡 Grammar Points
A Verb + Pronoun Combo
'Decirle' is two words in one: the verb 'decir' (to tell) + the little word 'le' (to him/her/you). In Spanish, you can often attach these little words directly to the end of a verb that's in its original '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form.
Who is 'le'?
'Le' is a bit of a mystery guest! It can mean 'to him,' 'to her,' or 'to you' (the formal 'usted'). You figure out who it is from the rest of the conversation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Where to Put the 'le'
Mistake: "Quiero le decir la hora."
Correction: You have two great options here: 1. 'Quiero decirle la hora.' (attach it to the end) or 2. 'Le quiero decir la hora.' (put it before the first verb). Both are perfect! The mistake is splitting them in the middle.
⭐ Usage Tips
Clearing Up the Mystery of 'le'
Because 'le' can mean three different things, Spanish speakers often add a little clarifying phrase like 'a él' (to him), 'a ella' (to her), or 'a usted' (to you). For example: 'Voy a decirle a Juan.' This makes it super clear who you're talking to.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: decirle
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly means 'I need to tell her the secret'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'decirle' and 'decirlo'?
Great question! 'Decirle' means 'to tell *someone*' (him, her, you). The '-le' part is about *who* receives the message. 'Decirlo' means 'to say *it*'. The '-lo' part refers to *what* is being said. Example: 'Voy a decirle (a Juan) el secreto.' (I'm going to tell him the secret) vs 'El secreto es importante; voy a decirlo.' (The secret is important; I'm going to say it).
Why are the conjugations for 'decir' shown here? Does 'decirle' conjugate?
'Decirle' itself doesn't change because it's the original verb form (infinitive) with 'le' attached. To use it in a sentence, you change the 'decir' part and the 'le' comes along for the ride, usually moving before the verb. For example, 'decirle' becomes 'le digo' (I tell him/her), 'le dijiste' (you told him/her), etc. We show the conjugations for 'decir' so you know how to build these sentences.