dígale
DEE-gah-leh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Dígale a su jefe que llegaremos tarde.
B1Tell your boss (formal) that we will arrive late.
Si lo ve, dígale que lo llamé.
A2If you see him, tell him that I called.
No le grite, mejor dígale las cosas con calma.
B2Don't yell at him, better to tell him things calmly.
💡 Grammar Points
Structure of Dígale
This word is a combination of the formal command 'Diga' (Tell/Say, for 'usted') and the pronoun 'le' (to him/her/it/you formal). It means 'You formally tell X.'
The Crucial Accent Mark
When you attach one or more pronouns to an affirmative command, you must usually add an accent mark (tílde) to keep the stress on the original command syllable: 'Diga' becomes 'Dígale'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Formal and Informal
Mistake: "Using 'dígale' when talking to a close friend."
Correction: Use 'dile' (Di + le) for informal commands to friends and family. 'Dígale' is reserved for formal situations (usted).
Misplacing the Accent
Mistake: "Writing 'digale' without the accent mark."
Correction: Always include the accent: 'Dígale'. Without it, the stress shifts to the wrong syllable, changing the pronunciation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Relaying Messages
Use 'dígale' specifically when you are instructing someone (usted) to deliver a message or piece of information to a third party.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dígale
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'dígale'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'dígale' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is required to keep the stress on the first syllable, 'dí-,' which is where the stress was in the original command ('Diga'). When you attach pronouns to a command, the normal stress rules change, so Spanish uses the accent to guide pronunciation correctly.
Can I attach more than one pronoun to 'dígale'?
Yes! For example, if you want to say 'Tell it to him/her,' you would use 'Dígaselo.' The indirect object pronoun 'le' changes to 'se' when followed immediately by the direct object pronoun 'lo/la/los/las.'