told in the Oxford Spanish Dictionary

Translations for told in the English»Spanish Dictionary

told [Am toʊld, Brit təʊld] pt & pt part tell

See also tell

I.tell <pt & pp told> [Am tɛl, Brit tɛl] VB trans

1. tell (inform, reveal):

tell

decir

to tell sb the truth/a lie

decirle la verdad/una mentira a alguien

as I was telling you

como te estaba or iba diciendo

I don't know how to tell you this but …

no sé cómo decírtelo, pero …

don't tell me, let me guess

no me lo digas, a ver si adivino

I've been told that …

me han dicho que …

he was told that …

le dijeron que …

could you tell me the way to the station?

¿me podría decir or indicar cómo se llega a la estación?

I'll tell him you are here

le diré que ha llegado

I'll tell him what happened

le diré or contaré qué pasó

tell me when you've finished

dime or avísame cuando hayas terminado

I am pleased to be able to tell you that … (in letters)

me complace comunicarle or informarle que …

it's not easy, let me tell you

no es fácil, te lo aseguro or garantizo

I tell you what: why don't we write to her? inf

se me ocurre una idea: ¿por qué no le escribimos?

you're telling me! inf

¡me lo vas a decir a mí!

she won't be told

no le hace caso a nadie

she won't be told

no hay quien la haga entrar en razón

I told you so!

¿no te lo dije?

I can't tell you how relieved I am!

¡no te imaginas el alivio que siento!

2. tell (recount, relate):

tell joke/tale

contar

tell me a story

cuéntame un cuento

he tells it like it is inf

cuenta or dice las cosas como son

the poem tells how …

el poema cuenta cómo …

the poem tells how …

el poema narra cómo … form

the poem tells how …

el poema relata cómo … form

to tell sb about sb/sth she's told me all about you

me ha hablado mucho de ti

tell us about Lima

cuéntanos cómo es Lima (or qué tal te fue en Lima etc.)

have you told him about us?

¿le has contado lo nuestro?

3. tell (instruct, warn):

tell

decir

do as or what you're told

haz lo que se te dice

I won't tell you again

no te lo voy a volver a repetir

no-one told me what to do

nadie me dijo qué or lo que tenía que hacer

to tell sb to + infin

decirle a alguien que  +  subj

tell them to come in

diles que pasen

she told me to be quiet

me dijo que me callara

I told you not to do that!

¡te dije que no hicieras eso!

4.1. tell (ascertain, know):

it's difficult to tell her age

es difícil calcularle la edad

I can't tell the exact width

no sabría decir qué ancho tiene exactamente

I could tell from her voice that she was upset

por la voz me di cuenta de que estaba disgustada

I can't tell the difference

yo no veo or no noto ninguna diferencia

you can tell by their clothes that they're French

por la ropa se nota que son franceses

there's no telling what might happen

no se sabe lo que podría ocurrir

to be able to tell the time

saber decir la hora

4.2. tell (distinguish):

tell

distinguir

to tell sth/sb from sth/sb

distinguir algo/a alguien de algo/alguien

it's hard to tell one twin from the other

es difícil distinguir a un mellizo del otro

you can always tell a Rubens

un Rubens es fácil de reconocer

to tell right from wrong

discriminar entre lo que está bien y lo que está mal

5. tell (count):

to tell one's beads

rezar el rosario

all told

en total

II.tell <pt & pp told> [Am tɛl, Brit tɛl] VB intr

1.1. tell (reveal):

only he knows the answer and he's not telling

solo él sabe la respuesta, pero no se la va a decir a nadie

ah, that would be telling

ah, eso es un secreto

promise you won't tell?

¿prometes que no se lo vas a contar or decir a nadie?

to tell on sb (to sb) inf he told on us to the teacher

le fue con el chisme or cuento al profesor inf

to tell on sb (to sb) inf he told on us to the teacher

se chivó al profesor Spain inf

to tell on sb (to sb) inf he told on us to the teacher

le fue a alcahuetear al profesor CSur inf

don't tell on us!

¡no nos descubras!

1.2. tell (relate) liter:

more than words can tell

más de lo que pueden expresar las palabras

to tell of sth

hablar de algo

it tells of great suffering

habla de grandes sufrimientos

2. tell (know, work out):

tell

saber

who can tell!

¡quién sabe!

you never can tell

nunca se sabe

3. tell (count, have an effect):

breeding tells

la buena educación siempre se nota

he made every punch tell

hizo contar cada golpe

his influence told

su influencia fue decisiva

her age is beginning to tell

se le está empezando a notar la edad

to tell against sb/sth

obrar en contra de alguien/algo

to tell on sb/sth the strain is beginning to tell on him

la tensión lo está empezando a afectar

I.tell <pt & pp told> [Am tɛl, Brit tɛl] VB trans

1. tell (inform, reveal):

tell

decir

to tell sb the truth/a lie

decirle la verdad/una mentira a alguien

as I was telling you

como te estaba or iba diciendo

I don't know how to tell you this but …

no sé cómo decírtelo, pero …

don't tell me, let me guess

no me lo digas, a ver si adivino

I've been told that …

me han dicho que …

he was told that …

le dijeron que …

could you tell me the way to the station?

¿me podría decir or indicar cómo se llega a la estación?

I'll tell him you are here

le diré que ha llegado

I'll tell him what happened

le diré or contaré qué pasó

tell me when you've finished

dime or avísame cuando hayas terminado

I am pleased to be able to tell you that … (in letters)

me complace comunicarle or informarle que …

it's not easy, let me tell you

no es fácil, te lo aseguro or garantizo

I tell you what: why don't we write to her? inf

se me ocurre una idea: ¿por qué no le escribimos?

you're telling me! inf

¡me lo vas a decir a mí!

she won't be told

no le hace caso a nadie

she won't be told

no hay quien la haga entrar en razón

I told you so!

¿no te lo dije?

I can't tell you how relieved I am!

¡no te imaginas el alivio que siento!

2. tell (recount, relate):

tell joke/tale

contar

tell me a story

cuéntame un cuento

he tells it like it is inf

cuenta or dice las cosas como son

the poem tells how …

el poema cuenta cómo …

the poem tells how …

el poema narra cómo … form

the poem tells how …

el poema relata cómo … form

to tell sb about sb/sth she's told me all about you

me ha hablado mucho de ti

tell us about Lima

cuéntanos cómo es Lima (or qué tal te fue en Lima etc.)

have you told him about us?

¿le has contado lo nuestro?

3. tell (instruct, warn):

tell

decir

do as or what you're told

haz lo que se te dice

I won't tell you again

no te lo voy a volver a repetir

no-one told me what to do

nadie me dijo qué or lo que tenía que hacer

to tell sb to + infin

decirle a alguien que  +  subj

tell them to come in

diles que pasen

she told me to be quiet

me dijo que me callara

I told you not to do that!

¡te dije que no hicieras eso!

4.1. tell (ascertain, know):

it's difficult to tell her age

es difícil calcularle la edad

I can't tell the exact width

no sabría decir qué ancho tiene exactamente

I could tell from her voice that she was upset

por la voz me di cuenta de que estaba disgustada

I can't tell the difference

yo no veo or no noto ninguna diferencia

you can tell by their clothes that they're French

por la ropa se nota que son franceses

there's no telling what might happen

no se sabe lo que podría ocurrir

to be able to tell the time

saber decir la hora

4.2. tell (distinguish):

tell

distinguir

to tell sth/sb from sth/sb

distinguir algo/a alguien de algo/alguien

it's hard to tell one twin from the other

es difícil distinguir a un mellizo del otro

you can always tell a Rubens

un Rubens es fácil de reconocer

to tell right from wrong

discriminar entre lo que está bien y lo que está mal

5. tell (count):

to tell one's beads

rezar el rosario

all told

en total

II.tell <pt & pp told> [Am tɛl, Brit tɛl] VB intr

1.1. tell (reveal):

only he knows the answer and he's not telling

solo él sabe la respuesta, pero no se la va a decir a nadie

ah, that would be telling

ah, eso es un secreto

promise you won't tell?

¿prometes que no se lo vas a contar or decir a nadie?

to tell on sb (to sb) inf he told on us to the teacher

le fue con el chisme or cuento al profesor inf

to tell on sb (to sb) inf he told on us to the teacher

se chivó al profesor Spain inf

to tell on sb (to sb) inf he told on us to the teacher

le fue a alcahuetear al profesor CSur inf

don't tell on us!

¡no nos descubras!

1.2. tell (relate) liter:

more than words can tell

más de lo que pueden expresar las palabras

to tell of sth

hablar de algo

it tells of great suffering

habla de grandes sufrimientos

2. tell (know, work out):

tell

saber

who can tell!

¡quién sabe!

you never can tell

nunca se sabe

3. tell (count, have an effect):

breeding tells

la buena educación siempre se nota

he made every punch tell

hizo contar cada golpe

his influence told

su influencia fue decisiva

her age is beginning to tell

se le está empezando a notar la edad

to tell against sb/sth

obrar en contra de alguien/algo

to tell on sb/sth the strain is beginning to tell on him

la tensión lo está empezando a afectar

tell apart VB [Am tɛl -, Brit tɛl -] (v + o + adv)

tell apart

distinguir

can you tell them apart?

¿los puedes distinguir (el uno del otro)?

can you tell them apart?

¿sabes decir cuál es cuál?

tell off VB [Am tɛl -, Brit tɛl -] (v + o + adv, v + adv + o)

1. tell off (scold):

tell off

regañar

tell off

reñir esp Spain

tell off

retar CSur

tell off

resondrar Peru

tell off

rezongar AmC Urug

2. tell off MIL:

to tell sb off for sth/to + infin

destacar a alguien para algo/ +infin

kiss-and-tell [Am ˌkɪsənˈtɛl, Brit ˌkɪs(ə)nˈtɛl] ADJ

kiss-and-tell book/story:

kiss-and-tell

en que el autor revela su vida íntima con una celebridad

show-and-tell [Am ˈˌʃoʊ ən ˈtɛl, Brit] N U Am

show-and-tell

actividad escolar que consiste en llevar objetos a la escuela y hablar acerca de ellos

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

I've told him countless times

se lo he dicho infinidad de veces

Translations for told in the Spanish»English Dictionary

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

(quienquiera que + subj) quienquiera que se lo haya dicho

whoever told him

lorear

to tell

le fue a lorear a la maestra que había sido yo

he went and told the teacher on me

me dijo/leyó la buenaventura

she told my fortune

told in the PONS Dictionary

Translations for told in the English»Spanish Dictionary

told [təʊld, Am toʊld]

told pt, pp of tell

See also tell

I.tell [tel] told, told told, told VB trans

1. tell (say):

tell

decir

to tell sb of sth

comunicar algo a alguien

to tell sb whether ...

informar a alguien de si...

I told you so

te avisé

2. tell (narrate):

tell

contar

tell me another (one) inf

cuéntame otra

3. tell (command):

tell

mandar

to tell sb to do sth

ordenar a alguien hacer algo

do as you're told inf

haz lo que te mandan

4. tell (make out):

tell

reconocer

5. tell (distinguish):

tell

distinguir

to tell sth from sth

distinguir algo de algo

6. tell (know):

tell

saber

there is no telling

no hay manera de saberlo

7. tell:

tell (count)

contar

tell (add up)

sumar

all told

en total

Phrases:

to tell it like it is inf

decir las cosas claras

that would be telling

eso podría ser cierto

you're telling me! inf

¡a mí me lo vas a contar!

II.tell [tel] told, told told, told VB intr

1. tell:

tell

hablar

to tell of sth/sb

hablar de algo/alguien

2. tell (know):

tell

saber

you never can tell

nunca se sabe

how can I tell?

¡yo qué se!

who can tell?

¿quién sabe?

3. tell (have an effect):

tell

tener efecto

I.tell [tel] told, told told, told VB trans

1. tell (say):

tell

decir

to tell sb of sth

comunicar algo a alguien

to tell sb whether ...

informar a alguien de si...

I told you so

te avisé

2. tell (narrate):

tell

contar

tell me another (one) inf

cuéntame otra

3. tell (command):

tell

mandar

to tell sb to do sth

ordenar a alguien hacer algo

do as you're told inf

haz lo que te mandan

4. tell (make out):

tell

reconocer

5. tell (distinguish):

tell

distinguir

to tell sth from sth

distinguir algo de algo

6. tell (know):

tell

saber

there is no telling

no hay manera de saberlo

7. tell:

tell (count)

contar

tell (add up)

sumar

all told

en total

Phrases:

to tell it like it is inf

decir las cosas claras

that would be telling

eso podría ser cierto

you're telling me! inf

¡a mí me lo vas a contar!

II.tell [tel] told, told told, told VB intr

1. tell:

tell

hablar

to tell of sth/sb

hablar de algo/alguien

2. tell (know):

tell

saber

you never can tell

nunca se sabe

how can I tell?

¡yo qué se!

who can tell?

¿quién sabe?

3. tell (have an effect):

tell

tener efecto

tell on VB trans

to tell on sb

chivarse de alguien

tell apart VB trans

tell apart

distinguir

tell against VB trans Brit

to tell against sb/sth

obrar en contra de alguien/algo

tell off VB trans

tell off

regañar

to tell sb off for sth

reñir a alguien por algo

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

he told me to give over

me dijo que parara ya

he told nobody

no se lo dijo a nadie

Translations for told in the Spanish»English Dictionary

Your search term in other parts of the dictionary

me mandó al infierno

he/she told me to go to hell

se lo dijo a todo quisque

he told every Tom, Dick and Harry

told Examples from the PONS Dictionary (editorially verified)

the woman that told me ...

la mujer que me dijo...

I told you that I couldn't come

te he dicho que no puedo ir

he told me to give over

me dijo que parara ya

no sooner had she told him, than ...

en cuanto se lo dijo...

I'd already been told something like that

ya me habían dicho algo por el estilo

the story I told you about

la historia de que te hablé

that boy I told you about

el chico de quien te hablé

he told every Tom, Dick and Harry

se lo dijo a todo quisque

when he told me I was speechless

cuando me lo dijo me quedé mudo

he/she told me to go to hell

me mandó al infierno

Monolingual examples (not verified by PONS Editors)

English

Approximately 45,000 state employees who were listed as non-essential were told to stay home.

en.wikipedia.org

He later had a meeting and told fans the number had been revised to 800 season ticket holders.

en.wikipedia.org

The cowherd went to the king and told him the story.

en.wikipedia.org

One day, a friend of mine told me that the garbage plant, the city's waste incinerator, would melt down too.

gawker.com

They were told to disrobe for a medical examination.

en.wikipedia.org

I told him that, commendable as his idea was, such a feature would not succeed.

en.wikipedia.org

If told that the fee was for ten bottles of wine that the patron's group neither ordered nor drank, the patron would rightly be outraged.

en.wikipedia.org

The director's deft defiant and untameable vision knits a blanket of lucid emotions embedded in a well-told narrative that hides a wealth of surreptitious surprises.

movies.ndtv.com

He told the court of how blood had sprayed over his raincoat as he castrated his victims, put their private parts into plastic bags and took them home.

en.wikipedia.org

We can never correct mistakes made in the past, but we can learn from the past, he told parliamentarians.

en.wikipedia.org