diles
“diles” means “tell them” in Spanish (giving an instruction to multiple people).
tell them, say to themAlso: tell y'all
📝 In Action
Necesito que me ayuden. Diles que vengan ahora.
A2I need them to help me. Tell them to come now.
Si ves a Juan y María, diles que mañana no hay clase.
B1If you see Juan and María, tell them that there is no class tomorrow.
No te olvides, diles la verdad sobre lo que pasó.
B1Don't forget, tell them the truth about what happened.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "diles" in Spanish:
✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
The word is a combination of the irregular informal imperative of the verb *decir* ('di', meaning 'say/tell!') and the plural indirect object pronoun *les* ('to them'). The root verb *decir* comes from the Latin *dicere*, meaning 'to say' or 'to proclaim'.
First recorded: Classical Spanish period (as a compound structure)
Cognates (Related words)
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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).