decirte
“decirte” means “to tell you” in Spanish (informal, singular 'you').
to tell you
Also: to say to you
📝 In Action
Quiero decirte algo importante.
A1I want to tell you something important.
Vine para decirte que lo siento.
A2I came to tell you that I'm sorry.
Tengo que decirte la verdad.
B1I have to tell you the truth.
No sé cómo decirte esto, pero rompí tu taza favorita.
B2I don't know how to tell you this, but I broke your favorite mug.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: decirte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'decirte'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word is a combination. The first part, `decir`, comes from the Latin word 'dīcere,' which means 'to say' or 'to speak.' The second part, `te`, comes from the Latin 'tē,' which means 'you' (as the one receiving an action).
First recorded: The root verb 'decir' has been part of Spanish since its earliest days, around the 10th century. Combining it with pronouns has been a feature for just as long.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `decirte` and `decirle`?
`Decirte` means 'to tell you' when you're talking to one person informally (tú). `Decirle` is more versatile; it means 'to tell him,' 'to tell her,' or 'to tell you' when you're speaking to someone formally (usted).
Can I ever say `te decir`?
Not on its own. The little word `te` can't just float before the base form `decir`. It must either be attached to the end (`decirte`) or go before a changed verb, like in `Te voy a decir algo` (I am going to tell you something).
Why are the conjugations for `decir` shown here?
`Decirte` isn't a verb that changes for who is doing the action. It's a combination of the base verb `decir` + `te`. To actually use it in a sentence, you'll almost always change `decir` (or a verb before it), so we show you the forms of `decir` to help you build your own sentences.