I told him

le dije

le decía

I told him(ay told hihm)

phrase

1. (short or defined period of time)

a. le dije

I told him to shut up but he kept talking.

Le dije que se callara pero siguió hablando.

b. le conté

I told him a joke and he laughed.

Le conté un chiste y se rió.

2. (long or undefined period of time)

a. le decía

When he was young, I always told him that being honest was the most important thing.

Cuando él era joven, yo siempre le decía que lo más importante era ser honesto.

b. le contaba

My father told him our family's history again and again.

Mi padre le contaba la historia de la familia una y otra vez.