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"Tell" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "contar", and "talk" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "hablar". Learn more about the difference between "tell" and "talk" below.
tell(
tehl
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to discern)
3. (to know)
a. saber
You can tell by the look in her eyes that she loves you.Puedes saber por su mirada que te quiere.
4. (to count)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The nun tells her rosary beads every evening.Todas las noches, la monja reza el rosario.
There were a hundred guests all told.Había cien invitados en total.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
6. (to divulge)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I won't tell Mom on you if you do me a favor.No me chivaré de ti a mamá si me haces un favor.
The agent asked her if she saw anything, but she was not willing to tell.El agente le preguntó si había visto algo, pero ella no lo quería decir.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Age tells when running a marathon.La edad pesa cuando corres un maratón.
Every answer tells in a job interview.Cada respuesta cuenta en una entrevista de trabajo.
talk(
tak
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
2. (to discuss)
a. hablar
In the meeting we talked about my future at the company.En la reunión hablamos sobre mi futuro en la compañía.
b. platicar (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
My best friend and I spent the night talking about boys.Mi mejor amiga y yo nos pasamos la noche platicando de muchachos.
3. (to gossip)
a. dar una conferencia
Today I'm going to talk about new technologies.Hoy voy a dar una conferencia sobre nuevas tecnologías.
b. dar una charla
The professor is going to talk about public policy this afternoon.El profesor va a dar una charla sobre políticas públicas esta tarde.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
5. (to discuss)
a. hablar de
It isn't polite to talk politics or religion at the dinner table.No se debe hablar de la política o de la religión durante la cena.
a. convencer
I didn't want to go to the party, but my girlfriend talked me into it.No quería ir a la fiesta, pero mi novia me convenció que fuéramos.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la conversación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We had a talk about my future.Tuvimos una conversación sobre mi futuro.
b. la plática (F) (Central America) (Mexico)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
I had a really good talk with my parents.Tuve una muy buena plática con mis padres.
8. (lecture)
a. la conferencia (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I went to a talk about climate change.Fui a una conferencia sobre el cambio climático.
9. (gossip)
a. el rumor (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
They say we're all going to get raises, but it's little more than talk at this point.Se dice que todos vamos a recibir un aumento de salario, pero es puro rumor a estas alturas.
b. las habladurías (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The talk in this office has gotten completely out of hand.Las habladurías en esta oficina están completamente descontroladas.
10. (hot air)
a. la palabrería (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
It's time to turn all of this talk into action.Es hora de cambiar toda esta palabrería por acción.
b. las palabras (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
If you want to succeed, stop the talk and start doing something.Si quieres tener éxito, déjate de palabras y pasa a la acción.
11. (language)
a. el modo de hablar (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
By his talk, you could tell he wasn't from here.Por su modo de hablar, se sabía que no era de aquí.
talks
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
12. (negotiations)
a. las negociaciones (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The talks concluded when both parties reached an agreement.Las negociaciones concluyeron cuando ambas partes llegaron a un acuerdo.
b. las conversaciones (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The purpose of the talks was to come to an agreement over the nuclear issue.El propósito de las conversaciones es llegar a un acuerdo sobre el tema nuclear.
