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A friendly, stylized character is holding a red telephone receiver to their ear, indicating they are answering a call.

dígame

DEE-gah-meh

Verb PhraseA1irregular ir
Hello??Used specifically when answering the telephone,Tell me?A formal request or command
Also:Yes??Used to acknowledge someone and prompt them to speak,Speak (to me)?Direct translation of the command

Quick Reference

infinitivedecir
gerunddiciendo
past Participledicho

📝 In Action

—¿Hola? —Dígame, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle?

A1

—Hello? —Yes, how can I help you?

Por favor, señorita, dígame dónde está la salida de emergencia.

A2

Please, miss, tell me where the emergency exit is.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, dígame sin problema.

A2

If you have any questions, tell me without hesitation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hable (speak (formal command))
  • ¿sí? (yes? (used to acknowledge))

Common Collocations

  • Dígame, señor. – Tell me, sir.
  • Dígame la verdad. – Tell me the truth.

💡 Grammar Points

A Command + A Direct Object

Dígame is a single word made of two parts: 'Diga' (the formal command for 'you say/tell') and 'me' (meaning 'to me'). Spanish attaches the pronouns right onto affirmative commands.

The Accent Rule

When you attach pronouns like 'me,' 'te,' or 'lo' to a verb command, the word often becomes longer. You need an accent mark (like in dígame) to make sure you keep the stress on the correct syllable—the first one—otherwise, it would sound like 'dee-GAH-meh'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting Formal vs. Informal

Mistake: "Using 'dígame' with friends or family."

Correction: Use 'dígame' only when speaking formally (Usted). For someone you know well, use the informal command: 'Dime' (tell me).

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'Phone Hello'

In many Spanish-speaking countries, especially when answering a landline or a professional call, 'Dígame' or 'Diga' is the standard way to answer, equivalent to saying 'Hello?' or 'How may I help you?'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dígame

Question 1 of 2

Which situation correctly uses 'Dígame'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'dígame' and 'dime'?

'Dime' means 'Tell me' but uses the informal command form ('tú'), so you use it with friends, family, or children. 'Dígame' means the exact same thing but uses the formal command form ('usted'), so you use it with strangers, elders, or people you address professionally.

Why does 'dígame' have an accent mark?

The accent mark is there to keep the natural stress on the first syllable ('DI-ga-me'). Without the accent, the stress would shift to the 'ga' (di-GA-me), which is grammatically incorrect for this command form. It follows a general rule for verb commands that get pronouns attached.