Inklingo

How to Say "tell!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

digan

DEE-gahnˈdi.ɣan

verb (command form)A2formal
Use 'digan' when giving a command to a group of people you address formally (ustedes).
A formally dressed teacher standing in front of three students, using a commanding gesture to instruct them to speak.

Examples

Digan sus nombres antes de empezar.

Say your names before starting. (Formal command to 'you all'.)

No digan nada hasta que yo les avise.

Don't say anything until I tell you. (Negative formal command to 'you all'.)

Formal Commands

'Digan' is the standard way to give a formal command to a group of people ('ustedes'). Spanish uses the special verb form (subjunctive) for all formal commands, both positive and negative.

Confusing Formal and Informal Commands

Mistake: “Dicen sus nombres. (Using the present tense indicative instead of the command form.)”

Correction: Digan sus nombres. (You must use the 'digan' form when giving a command to 'ustedes'.)

dí

verb (command form)A1informal
Use 'dí' as an informal command (tú) to ask someone to communicate information, often a specific piece of information like an opinion or a secret.

Examples

¡Dí tu opinión sobre el plan!

Give your opinion about the plan! (Informal command to 'you'.)

informa

een-FOR-mahinˈfoɾma

verbB1
Use 'informa' when instructing someone to communicate or report specific information to another person or entity.
A person pointing with an authoritative gesture towards a group of people, giving a command.

Examples

¡Informa a tu padre de lo que pasó!

Tell your father what happened! (Command to 'you'.)

Informa de cualquier cambio inmediatamente.

Report any change immediately.

Giving Commands

This is the 'tú' command form. Use it when you want a friend, peer, or family member to take action.

Informal vs. Formal Commands

The most common mistake is using the informal 'dí' when you should use the formal 'digan' for a group, or vice versa. Remember 'dí' is for one person you know well (tú), while 'digan' is for multiple people you address formally (ustedes).

Related Translations

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