te lo dije
/te lo dixe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "told you" is translated into Spanish as te lo dije.
This phrase is used to remind someone that you previously warned them or predicted a specific outcome. It is commonly used in a "told-you-so" manner when a predicted negative event actually occurs.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of te (to you), lo (it) and dije (I said).
Did you know?
- While te lo dije is common, Spanish speakers often use the expression ya te lo decía to sound slightly less confrontational, though it still carries the same 'I told you so' energy.
- The verb in te lo dije comes from the Latin verb 'dicere', which is the same root used in English words like 'diction' or 'dictionary'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you want to sound more emphatic or 'rub it in' further, you might add 'ya' to say ya te lo dije, meaning 'I already told you'.
Examples in context
- Yo te lo dije.I told you so.Tatoeba #4628111 by Francisco_M, translation #1953138 by CK
- Te lo dije hace un rato.I told you before!Tatoeba #945563 by hayastan, translation #239709 by saeb
- Te lo dije una y otra vez.I told you again and again.Tatoeba #1010315 by Shishir, translation #240554 by sundown
- Le dije a Juan que comprar acciones de esa compañía no era una buena idea, ¡y te lo dije muchas veces!I told Juan that buying shares of that company was not a good idea, and I told you many times!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are looking at a broken umbrella after a sudden storm.
- ElenaTe lo dije, iba a llover.I told you, it was going to rain.
- MateoTienes razón, Elena.You are right, Elena.
- ElenaDeberías haber traído un paraguas.You should have brought an umbrella.
- MateoLo siento, no te escuché.I am sorry, I didn't listen to you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dije, lo, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
