dile
/dile/from spelling rules
To say "tell her" in Spanish, use dile.
This phrase is used as a request or a command to provide information to a female person.
What does it mean word for word?
The word dile is a combination of the imperative verb di (tell) and the indirect object pronoun le (to him/her/you formal).
Which one should you use?
While the phrase is often used to mean "tell her", the form dile is gender-neutral for the recipient and can also mean "tell him" depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to say "tell it to her", you add the object pronoun lo (it) to the end of the word to get díselo.
How do you pronounce it?
/dile/
Did you know?
- In certain regions, saying dile with a rising intonation can function as a way of saying 'I dare you' or 'go ahead and try'.
- If you are telling someone to 'tell her' a secret, Spanish speakers might use the verb contar instead of decir, changing the phrase to cuéntale.
- While dile is a command, adding the word por favor at the end is often not enough to make it polite. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using the imperative form can sound too blunt, so speakers often switch to a question like ¿podrías decirle? to avoid sounding bossy.
Examples in context
- Dile que le ayude.Tell her to help him.This sentence shows how to use dile to request that someone help him.Tatoeba #3210412 by marcelostockle, translation #1583730 by fanty
- Dile que tengo sed.Tell her that I am thirsty.This sentence shows how to use dile to relay a state of being.Tatoeba #1741641 by Shishir, translation #1741640 by Amastan
- Dile que la extraño.Tell her I miss her.This sentence shows how to use dile to express a feeling.Tatoeba #4926427 by DarkHollow, translation #4926420 by DarkHollow
- Dile que la extrañoTell her I miss her
- Cuéntale que la vi en el parqueTell her I saw her in the park
- Transmítele mis saludosTell her I send my regards
- Dígale que estoy a su disposiciónTell her I am at her disposal
- Hágame el favor de decirle que estoy agradecidoDo me the favor of telling her that I am grateful
- Le ruego que le diga que es un honor conocerlaI beg you to tell her it is an honor to meet her
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about a message for a friend.
- LucíaDile que la fiesta es hoy.Tell her that the party is today.
- Javier¿A ella?To her?
- LucíaSí, dile que venga temprano.Yes, tell her to come early.
- JavierEstá bien, se lo diré.Okay, I will tell her.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
