How to Say "they told" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they told” is “dijeron” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ellos dijeron que no podían venir a la fiesta.
They said that they couldn't come to the party.
¿Qué les dijeron ustedes a sus padres sobre el viaje?
What did you all tell your parents about the trip?
Me dijeron que el museo estaba cerrado.
They told me the museum was closed.
A Specific Past Action
'Dijeron' is used for actions that happened and were completed at a definite point in the past. Think of it like a snapshot: the action of saying or telling is over and done with.
Who are 'They' or 'You All'?
This one word can refer to different groups. It means 'they said' (ellos/ellas) or 'you all said' (ustedes). You know who it is from the conversation's context.
The 'j' is Important!
Mistake: “Mis padres *decieron* que no.”
Correction: Mis padres *dijeron* que no. The verb 'decir' is irregular and changes its stem to 'dij-' in this past tense. It's a very common mistake, so practice it!
Saying vs. Speaking
Mistake: “Ellos *hablaron* que la tienda estaba cerrada.”
Correction: Ellos *dijeron* que la tienda estaba cerrada. Use 'decir' to report what someone said. Use 'hablar' for the general act of speaking, like 'Ellos hablaron por teléfono' (They spoke on the phone).
Related Translations
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