How To Say ‘Tell Them’ In Spanish

The most common translation of ‘tell them’ in Spanish is ‘diles’ (informal) or ‘dígales’ (formal), from the verb ‘decir’.

You learn early that the Spanish verb decir means “to tell” or “to say.” Adding an object pronoun seems easy enough — just tack on les for “them.” But when a native speaker says Díselo instead of Dile lo, the simple rule crumbles, and suddenly “tell them” feels like a grammar puzzle.

The truth is that Spanish has two command forms for “tell them” — diles (informal, singular you) and dígales (formal, singular you) — plus a mandatory sound rule that transforms le and les into se before certain direct object pronouns. This article walks you through each form, when to use it, and how the pronoun rule works so you can say “tell them” naturally in any situation.

The Two Command Forms: Diles and Dígales

The informal tú command diles breaks down as di (the imperative of decir) plus les (to them). If you’re talking to a friend, “Diles la verdad” (Tell them the truth) works perfectly.

The formal usted command dígales uses the subjunctive stem diga plus les. Use this in professional settings, with elders, or when addressing strangers. “Dígales que esperen” (Tell them to wait) shows the formal version.

For groups, the plural commands are díganles (ustedes) in Latin America or decidles (vosotros) in Spain. Both follow the same pronoun placement — the indirect object pronoun les attaches to the end of the affirmative command.

Note that decir is irregular in the imperative: tú command is di (not dice), and usted command is diga. Memorizing these forms is the first step to using “tell them” correctly.

Why the Le/Les to Se Rule Trips Learners Up

Many Spanish learners confidently produce dile lo for “tell it to him” — only to hear a native speaker say díselo. The change isn’t optional; it’s a fixed phonetic rule in Spanish grammar.

• The rule applies to le and les: When the indirect object pronoun le (to him/her/you formal) or les (to them/you all) is followed by a direct object pronoun starting with l — lo, la, los, las — the le or les changes to se. This avoids the clumsy le lo sound.
• It is mandatory, not optional: Spanish grammar requires this change. Le lo digo is incorrect; Se lo digo is the only correct form.
• Only with third-person direct objects: The rule does not apply with me, te, or nos. You do keep te lo or me lo — no change needed.
• This se is different from the reflexive se: The reflexive se indicates someone doing an action to themselves (se lava). The se that replaces le/les is a different grammatical function — context makes it clear.
• Examples in commands: “Tell it to them” (informal) becomes Díselo (di + se + lo), not Díles lo. “Tell them to her” uses se la if the direct object is feminine.

Once you internalize this rule, creating sentences like Se la digo (I tell it to them) becomes automatic. The key is practicing with both indirect and direct pronouns together.

Common Phrases with Tell Them and Object Pronouns

The most straightforward use of “tell them” appears in everyday requests. For example, “Diles de mi trabajo nuevo” (Tell them about my new job) uses the informal command. If you need formal, “Dígales de mi trabajo nuevo” sounds polite.

When the command includes a direct object — like “tell it to them” — the verb decir combines with the se rule. “Tell it to them” becomes Díselo (informal) or Dígaselo (formal). The pronoun order is fixed: command + se + direct object.

For plural direct objects, such as “tell them the answers,” use Díselas (tell + them (indirect) + them (feminine direct)). The les changes to se before las. This pattern works for masculine objects too: Díselos.

These combinations may look complex, but they all follow the same pattern: command form, then the indirect object (changed to se if needed), then the direct object pronoun.

When to Use Contar Instead of Decir

While decir covers most “tell” situations, the verb contar (to tell a story) appears frequently in Spanish. Its pronoun structure mirrors decir, but the meaning shifts from a simple statement to a narrative.

Choosing between the two comes down to context and the type of information you’re sharing. The pronoun rules you already know apply without change.

1. Use decir for direct commands and factual telling. “Diles la hora” (Tell them the time) or “Diles que vengan” (Tell them to come) are straightforward. The se rule applies when you add a direct object pronoun.
2. Use contar for storytelling or recounting events. “Cuéntales lo que pasó” (Tell them what happened) sounds natural when you expect a narrative. “Diles lo que pasó” would work, but it feels less idiomatic.
3. The pronoun rule applies equally to contar. “Cuéntalas” (tell them, the stories) uses the same se rule if combined with indirect objects: “Cuéntaselas” (tell them the stories to them). The change is identical.
4. Formal and informal commands work the same way. “Cuénteles” (formal) vs “Cuéntales” (informal). Learners can apply the same conjugation pattern they use for decir.

If you’re reporting news, stick with decir. If you’re telling a story, contar is more idiomatic. Both verbs share the pronoun machinery, so learning one reinforces the other.

Real Examples from Everyday Spanish

Seeing the forms in context helps solidify them. A common use is telling a group of friends you left together: “Diles que nos fuimos a casa juntos.” The Reverso translation service provides the diles que example for this exact phrase.

Another example: asking someone to relay news. “Por favor, diles que llegaremos tarde” (Please tell them we’ll arrive late). The pronoun les attaches to the command without a direct object pronoun, so no se change occurs.

For formal situations, “Dígales que la reunión se ha cancelado” (Tell them the meeting has been canceled) uses the usted form. The same rule applies if you add a direct object: “Dígaselo” for “Tell it to them (formal).”

The Bottom Line

Mastering “tell them” in Spanish means learning two command bases (diles and dígales) and the automatic se-rule for pronoun stacks. Practice with common combinations — díselo, díselas, cuéntaselo — to build fluency. The rule is consistent, so once you internalize it, you won’t second-guess.

If you are preparing for a DELE exam or want to sound natural in conversation, a certified Spanish teacher (with an ELE credential) can design drills for these pronoun pairs based on your current level and how much time you have to practice each week.