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A smiling adult character leaning down and whispering a secret instruction directly into the ear of a young child character. The child is holding a rolled-up piece of paper, ready to run off and deliver the message.

diles

DEE-less

Verb (Command Form)A2irregular (compound imperative) ir
tell them?giving an instruction to multiple people,say to them?giving an instruction to multiple people
Also:tell y'all?regional informal plural address

Quick Reference

infinitivedecir
gerunddiciendo
past Participledicho

📝 In Action

Necesito que me ayuden. Diles que vengan ahora.

A2

I need them to help me. Tell them to come now.

Si ves a Juan y María, diles que mañana no hay clase.

B1

If you see Juan and María, tell them that there is no class tomorrow.

No te olvides, diles la verdad sobre lo que pasó.

B1

Don't forget, tell them the truth about what happened.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • comunícales (communicate to them)
  • infórmales (inform them)

💡 Grammar Points

The Power of the Command

‘Diles’ is the informal command ('tú' form) of the verb 'decir' ('di'), with the pronoun 'les' (to them/y’all) attached directly to the end.

Pronoun Placement Rule

When giving an affirmative command (telling someone to do something), any pronoun objects (like 'les') must be glued onto the end of the verb.

Di vs. Decid

The base command 'di' is only for a single informal person ('tú'). If you are talking to multiple people, you would use 'digan' (formal plural) or 'decid' (informal plural, mostly Spain).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Incorrect Pronoun Order

Mistake: "Les di."

Correction: Diles. (When giving a command, the pronoun must follow the verb.)

Confusing 'Les' and 'Le'

Mistake: "Dile (when talking to multiple people)."

Correction: Diles. ('Dile' means 'Tell him/her/you formal'; 'Diles' means 'Tell them/you all'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Informal and Direct

This command form is very direct and should only be used with people you know well (friends, family, children), as it uses the informal 'tú' command.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: diles

Question 1 of 2

If you wanted to tell your friend (tú) to tell ONE person (him) something, what command would you use?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't 'diles' have an accent mark?

Spanish rules require an accent mark only if adding the pronoun creates a word of three or more syllables, or if the natural stress shifts. Since 'diles' is only two syllables and the stress remains on the first ('DI-les'), no accent is needed.

Can I use 'diles' when speaking to my boss?

No. 'Diles' uses the informal 'tú' command ('di'). When speaking formally to a superior, you must use the 'usted' command form: 'Dígales' (Tell them).