How to Say "to tell" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to tell” is “decir” — use 'decir' when you are conveying a piece of information or a message directly to someone, similar to 'to say'.
decir
deh-SEERdeˈθiɾ
Examples
Mi mamá siempre dice la verdad.
My mom always tells the truth.
¿Qué dijiste? No te oí.
What did you say? I didn't hear you.
Por favor, dime tu nombre.
Please, tell me your name.
Telling vs. Speaking ('Decir' vs. 'Hablar')
'Decir' focuses on what is said (the message), while 'hablar' focuses on the action of speaking itself. 'Digo la verdad' (I tell the truth), but 'Hablo español' (I speak Spanish).
Who are you telling? ('Objetos Indirectos')
When you tell something to someone, you use little words like 'me', 'te', 'le' before 'decir'. For example, 'Te digo un secreto' means 'I'm telling you a secret'.
Confusing 'decir' and 'contar'
Mistake: “Voy a decirte una historia.”
Correction: Voy a contarte una historia. Use 'contar' for telling stories, jokes, or recounting events. Use 'decir' for specific information or quotes.
Irregular 'yo' form
Mistake: “Yo deco la verdad.”
Correction: Yo digo la verdad. The 'yo' form in the present is very irregular. Remember: 'digo'!
contar
cohn-TARkonˈtaɾ
Examples
Ella siempre me cuenta historias fascinantes de su viaje.
She always tells me fascinating stories about 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.
comunicar
koh-moo-nee-karkomuniˈkaɾ
Examples
Necesito comunicar esta noticia a mi familia.
I need to tell this news to my family.
Es importante comunicar tus ideas con claridad.
It is important to communicate your ideas clearly.
El director comunicó los cambios por correo electrónico.
The director announced the changes via email.
The 'C' to 'QU' Swap
In the 'I' form of the past tense (preterite), the 'c' changes to 'qu' (comuniqué). This is just to keep the hard 'K' sound; it doesn't change how the verb works!
Using 'Con'
When you want to say you are communicating WITH someone, you must use the word 'con' after the verb.
Forgetting the 'qu' in writing
Mistake: “Yo comunicé la noticia.”
Correction: Yo comuniqué la noticia. (We use 'qu' before 'e' to keep the sound hard like a 'K'.)
relatar
reh-lah-TARre.laˈtaɾ
Examples
El abuelo nos relató sus aventuras en el mar.
Grandpa told us about his adventures at sea.
El periodista relató los hechos con mucha precisión.
The journalist recounted the facts with great precision.
Es imposible relatar todo lo que pasó en una sola tarde.
It's impossible to narrate everything that happened in a single afternoon.
A perfectly regular verb
Relatar is a regular '-ar' verb. It follows the exact same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in every single form.
Telling 'how' vs 'what'
When you want to say what happened, you usually follow 'relatar' directly with the information: 'Relató el robo' (He recounted the robbery).
False Friend Alert
Mistake: “Using 'relatar' to mean 'to relate' in the sense of 'I can relate to you.'”
Correction: In Spanish, if you feel a connection to someone's experience, use 'sentirse identificado' or 'comprender.' 'Relatar' is only for the act of speaking or writing a story.
narrar
na-RRARnaˈraɾ
Examples
Mi abuelo siempre narra historias de su infancia.
My grandfather always tells stories from his childhood.
El periodista narró los hechos del accidente con mucha precisión.
The journalist recounted the facts of the accident with great precision.
Es difícil narrar un partido de fútbol con tanta rapidez.
It is difficult to commentate on a soccer match with such speed.
Narrar vs. Contar
'Narrar' is more formal and artistic. Use it for books, news, or sports. For everyday secrets or jokes, use 'contar'.
Regular AR Pattern
This verb follows the standard rules for verbs ending in -ar, like 'hablar'. No stem changes or surprises here!
Using it for everything
Mistake: “Me narró un chiste.”
Correction: Me contó un chiste. (Use 'contar' for jokes, secrets, or casual conversations; 'narrar' is too formal for a joke.)
Decir vs. Contar
Related Translations
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