How do you say tell in Spanish?

The most common translation for tell in Spanish is decir, which covers direct speech, instructions, and information relay. Contar is used when telling stories or recounting events, and avisar applies when telling functions as notifying or warning someone.

What is the difference between decir and contar?

Decir transmits a specific message, instruction, or piece of information from one person to another. Contar focuses on narration, storytelling, and recounting experiences or events in sequence. The distinction mirrors the difference between tell someone something and tell someone a story.

How do you conjugate decir in the present tense?

Decir is highly irregular in the present tense: yo digo, tú dices, él/ella dice, nosotros decimos, ellos/ellas dicen. The first-person form digo and the stem change from e to i in most forms make it one of the trickiest Spanish verbs to memorize.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Tell in Spanish: Decir

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Decir · verb · deh-SEER

Decir is the primary Spanish verb for tell, covering direct speech, instructions, and conveying information. Contar is preferred when telling a story, recounting events, or narrating experiences. Both verbs are irregular and rank among the most frequently used words in spoken and written Spanish.

Decir is pronounced deh-SEER, with stress on the second syllable. In the first-person present tense, the stem changes to digo (DEE-goh), which catches many learners off guard.

Dime la verdad sobre lo que pasó.

Tell me the truth about what happened.

Tell in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for tell, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
decir	tell	deh-SEER	Default, widely understood
contar	tell		used when telling a story or narrating events
avisar	tell		used when telling someone as a warning or notification

How Native Speakers Use Decir

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Direct instruction

Te dije que llegaras temprano y no me hiciste caso.

I told you to arrive early and you didn't listen to me.

Decir is the default verb for giving instructions or relaying information to someone.

Telling a story

Mi abuela siempre nos contaba historias de su pueblo.

My grandmother always told us stories about her town.

Contar replaces decir when the focus is on narrating or recounting events.

Warning someone

Avísale a tu hermano que la cena ya está lista.

Tell your brother that dinner is ready.

Avisar works for tell when the message functions as a heads-up or notification.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Decir

Using decir instead of contar for stories

Incorrect: Ella me dijo una historia muy graciosa.

Correct: Ella me contó una historia muy graciosa.

When someone tells a story or narrates a sequence of events, Spanish uses contar rather than decir. Decir with historia sounds like she stated a story title rather than narrated it.

Wrong irregular form in present tense

Incorrect: Yo deco la verdad siempre.

Correct: Yo digo la verdad siempre.

Decir has an irregular first-person present form: digo, not deco. The stem change from dec- to dig- only occurs in the yo form of the present indicative.

Lock in Tell Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Decir used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using decir in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Dime la verdad sobre lo que pasó. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Tell in Spanish

How do you say tell in Spanish?: The most common translation for tell in Spanish is decir, which covers direct speech, instructions, and information relay. Contar is used when telling stories or recounting events, and avisar applies when telling functions as notifying or warning someone.
What is the difference between decir and contar?: Decir transmits a specific message, instruction, or piece of information from one person to another. Contar focuses on narration, storytelling, and recounting experiences or events in sequence. The distinction mirrors the difference between tell someone something and tell someone a story.
How do you conjugate decir in the present tense?: Decir is highly irregular in the present tense: yo digo, tú dices, él/ella dice, nosotros decimos, ellos/ellas dicen. The first-person form digo and the stem change from e to i in most forms make it one of the trickiest Spanish verbs to memorize.