acusar a alguien
/akusaɾ a alɡjen/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'tell on someone' can be translated into Spanish as acusar a alguien.
This phrase is used when you inform a person in authority that someone else has done something wrong.
Which one should you use?
While acusar a alguien means to accuse someone and carries a heavy weight for serious or legal contexts, the term chivarse is used when someone tells on others regarding petty or social betrayals.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the colloquial expression soplar is used to mean 'to blow' and is used to say 'tell on someone'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase acusar a alguien, you must include the personal 'a' before the person who is being accused.
How do you pronounce it?
/akusaɾ a alɡjen/
Did you know?
- The word acusar is so ancient in Spanish that it appears in the epic poem El Cid.
- In many Spanish-speaking contexts, if you tell on someone for a minor or childish reason, you might be called a chivato, a term that carries a social stigma of being a 'snitch'.
Examples in context
- Oye, ¿viste lo que hizo Juan? No puedo creerlo, ¡le voy a contar a mamá!Hey, did you see what Juan did? I can't believe it, I'm going to tell mom!
- Ella siempre quiere acusar a alguien cuando algo sale mal.She always wants to tell on someone when something goes wrong.
Example conversation
Two students are talking after a classmate broke a rule.
- DanielVimos que Juan rompió el vidrio.We saw that Juan broke the glass.
- MaríaNo deberías acusar a alguien así.You shouldn't tell on someone like that.
- DanielPero fue un accidente muy grande.But it was a very big accident.
- MaríaMejor hablemos con él primero.Better let's talk to him first.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, acusar, alguien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
