dime
“dime” means “tell me” in Spanish (as a command or request).
tell me
Also: say to me
📝 In Action
Dime la verdad.
A1Tell me the truth.
Por favor, dime qué hora es.
A1Please, tell me what time it is.
Dime qué piensas sobre esto.
A2Tell me what you think about this.
Si necesitas algo, solo dime.
B1If you need anything, just tell me.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "dime" in Spanish:
tell me→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: dime
Question 1 of 2
You're talking to your professor and want to ask them to tell you their email address. What do you say?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
It's a combination of two words. 'Di' is the command form of the Latin verb 'dīcere', which means 'to say' or 'to speak'. 'Me' comes directly from the Latin pronoun 'mē', meaning 'me'. Over time, Spanish fused them into a single, convenient word for commands.
First recorded: Forms of this combination have existed since Old Spanish, around the 12th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it 'dime' and not 'dice me'?
'Dime' is a command, an instruction for someone to do something. It comes from the special command form 'di'. 'Dice' means 'he/she says' and is just a statement, not a command. In Spanish, commands often have their own unique verb forms.
Is 'dime' rude?
Not at all, as long as you use it with the right person! It's the standard, friendly way to ask a friend, family member, or someone your age to tell you something. Just remember to switch to the more polite 'dígame' for strangers, elders, or in professional settings.
What's the difference between 'dime' and 'cuéntame'?
Think of 'dime' as being for short, factual information ('tell me the time', 'tell me your name'). 'Cuéntame' is more like 'tell me a story' or 'tell me about it'. You use 'cuéntame' when you want someone to narrate something, like what happened at the party or how their trip was.