Inklingo

How to Say "to relate" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to relate” is “conectar” — use 'conectar' when you mean to establish a link or connection between two or more abstract ideas, concepts, or pieces of information..

English → Spanish

conectar

koh-nek-TAR/ko.nekˈtaɾ/

verbB2abstract data
Use 'conectar' when you mean to establish a link or connection between two or more abstract ideas, concepts, or pieces of information.
Three brightly colored, distinct puzzle pieces floating in the air, visibly being pulled together by glowing lines to form a linked sequence.

Examples

Es difícil conectar la falta de sueño con la pérdida de memoria.

It is difficult to relate the lack of sleep to memory loss.

La investigación conecta el aumento de tráfico con la contaminación.

The research connects the increase in traffic with pollution.

Formal Usage

In this abstract sense, 'conectar' often appears in passive constructions or formal statements, emphasizing the relationship between two concepts rather than the person doing the connecting.

contar

cohn-TAR/konˈtaɾ/

verbA2formal way of saying 'to tell'
Use 'contar' when you mean to tell or narrate something, such as a story, an event, or personal experiences.
A cozy illustration of an adult person speaking animatedly with expressive hand gestures to two children who are sitting nearby, listening carefully to the story being told.

Examples

Ella siempre me cuenta historias fascinantes de su viaje.

She always relates fascinating stories from her trip.

Te voy a contar un secreto, pero prométeme no decírselo a nadie.

I'm going to tell you a secret, but promise me not to tell anyone.

¿Me cuentas qué pasó anoche en la fiesta?

Will you tell me what happened last night at the party?

Who Hears the Story?

When 'contar' means 'to tell,' the person receiving the story often takes an indirect object pronoun (like 'me', 'te', 'le', etc.): 'Me cuenta' (He/She tells me).

Confusing 'Tell' verbs

Mistake: “Usar 'decir' para historias largas (e.g., Decir una historia).”

Correction: Use 'contar' for telling long narratives or stories. Use 'decir' for giving simple information or commands.

Confusing abstract links with storytelling

Learners often confuse 'conectar' and 'contar' because 'to relate' can mean both 'to link' and 'to tell'. Remember that 'conectar' is for abstract relationships, while 'contar' is for narrating events or stories.

Related Translations

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