Inklingo

How to Say "they tell" in Spanish

English → Spanish

dicen

DEE-senˈdi.sen

VerbA1General
Use 'dicen' when referring to a specific group of people (like 'they' or 'she/he' in the third person plural) stating a fact or opinion. It's about reporting what someone said.
Three friends standing together, clearly talking and gesturing to each other in a colorful setting, representing a specific group speaking.

Examples

Ellos dicen que va a llover.

They say it's going to rain.

Mis amigos dicen que la película es buena.

My friends say that the movie is good.

Ellos siempre dicen la verdad.

They always tell the truth.

Señores, ¿qué dicen ustedes sobre el plan?

Gentlemen, what do you all say about the plan?

Who is 'they'?

'Dicen' is the form for 'ellos/ellas' (they) and 'ustedes' (you all, formal). You'll know who it is from the conversation. If someone is talking about their parents, 'dicen' means 'they (the parents) say'.

Telling a Story

Mistake: “Mis abuelos me dicen historias.”

Correction: For telling longer things like stories or jokes, it's more natural to use the verb 'contar'. So, 'Mis abuelos me cuentan historias' (My grandparents tell me stories) sounds better.

cuentan

KWEHN-tahnˈkwen.tan

VerbA2General
Use 'cuentan' when the meaning is 'they narrate' or 'they recount', typically when telling a story, a joke, or explaining something in detail.
Two adults sitting on comfortable chairs facing each other. One adult is leaning forward with an expressive, open-mouthed gesture, actively telling a story, while the other adult is listening intently.

Examples

Mis abuelos siempre cuentan historias de su juventud.

My grandparents always tell stories about their youth.

En la radio, cuentan las noticias del día.

On the radio, they report the day's news.

The 'They Say' Construction

When used impersonally (without specifying who 'they' are), 'cuentan' often translates to 'it is said' or 'people say': 'Cuentan que...' (They say that...).

Saying vs. Telling Stories

The most common mistake is using 'cuentan' when you mean 'they say' (reporting a statement). Remember, 'dicen' is for what people *state*, while 'cuentan' is for what people *narrate* or *recount*.

Related Translations

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