New here? This is lesson 200 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.
Free Spanish CourseLesson 200 of 238
She told me in Spanish
News travels at Café Laurel, and today Amanda has some about Yako and a card. Somebody told her, and now she's telling you.
In this lesson you'll learn to pass on what someone said: they told me, they told me a story, according to so-and-so.
You'll also ask who told you, and how to say that was all they said.
By the end of this lesson
Report what someone said, simply.
- Me dijo que ___She told me ___
- Me contó que ___He told me that ___
- Según ___, ___According to ___, ___
- ¿Quién te dijo?Who told you?
- No dijo másThat was all they said
- Yo le dije que ___I told them ___
Scene — the card story
Late afternoon at Café Laurel. Justin is at his usual table when Amanda comes down from upstairs with news about Yako and a card.
Yako is already at the next table, extremely busy with his cup.
Learn — me dijo, según, no dijo más
These six lines let you report gossip in one pass. Notice how each one frames the source differently: told me, told me a story, according to them, I told them.
You'll see them all again in the story.
Me dijo que ___
She told me ___
When to use it: Use this to pass on what someone told you, briefly.
Dijo is the preterite of decir and doesn't show gender; the person is clear from context.
Say it: DEE-hoh, two syllables.
Me contó que ___
He told me that ___
When to use it: Use this to pass on a story someone told you.
Contar means to tell a story, so it fits longer reports; either gender can be the source.
Say it: con-TOH, stress on the last syllable.
Según ___, ___
According to ___, ___
When to use it: Use this to name your source without repeating a verb.
Según never changes, no matter who you name after it.
Say it: seh-GOON, with the stress on the second syllable.
¿Quién te dijo?
Who told you?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to know the source of a story.
Te is you; the question is about who told you.
No dijo más
That was all they said
When to use it: Say this when someone shared a story and added nothing else.
Más with an accent means more; mas without one is literary.
Yo le dije que ___
I told them ___
When to use it: Use this to report what you told someone.
Le means to him or to her; dije is the preterite of decir.
Say it: DEE-heh, with a soft j like an English h.
Story — one pass, then Yako
Amanda delivers the whole story in one pass, and Justin works out where it came from. The highlighted words are today's lines.
Watch for Yako at the next table. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Late afternoon. Amanda comes down the stairs and heads straight for Justin's table.
AmandaHola, Justin. ¿Supiste lo de la tarjeta de Yako?Hi, Justin. Did you hear about Yako's card?
JustinNo, ¿qué pasó?No, what happened?- AmandaMe contó que Michael encontró tu tarjeta en el suelo.He told me that Michael found your card on the floor.
- Justin¿Quién te dijo?Who told you?
- AmandaMichael. Me dijo que Yako la tomó para cuidarla.Michael. He told me that Yako took it to keep it safe.
- Justin¿En serio?Seriously?
- AmandaSí. Según Michael, Yako la guardó bajo su taza.Yes. According to Michael, Yako kept it under his cup.
- Justin¿Y qué más dijo?And what else did he say?
- AmandaNo dijo más.That was all he said.
- JustinYo le dije que no pasaba nada.I told them it was no big deal.
- At the next table, Yako is extremely busy with his cup.
YakoYo solo pasaba.I was just passing by.- AmandaAhí está, muy ocupado con su taza.There he is, very busy with his cup.
- JustinGracias por decírmelo.Thanks for telling me.
Practice — who said what
Ten quick exercises are waiting here. You'll listen, match, fill gaps, and spot a missing accent.
They start easy and end with building a line from scratch.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Spanish
Me dijo que ___Drop the English hereMe contó que ___Drop the English hereSegún ___, ___Drop the English hereYo le dije que ___Drop the English hereEnglish
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
¿En serio?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
That was all they said
No dijo ____
What do you say?
What do you say?
A friend just told you something useful about your missing card.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Michael told you the whole story about the card, start to finish.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Who told you?
¿Quién te ____?
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
Amanda shared a story and you want to know where it came from.
Build the line
Build the line
Who told you?
¿ ?
Tap the words in order.
Say it — your turn to report
Now you're Justin, and Amanda brings you the news about the card. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say your line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear a line. Your recording stays on your device.
- AmandaMe contó que Michael encontró tu tarjeta.He told me that Michael found your card.
- Justin (you)Ask her who told her.
Ask her who told her.
¿Quién te dijo?
Who told you?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Spanish | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Me dijo que ___ | She told me ___ | |
| Me contó que ___ | He told me that ___ | |
| Según ___, ___ | According to ___, ___ | |
| ¿Quién te dijo? | Who told you? | |
| No dijo más | That was all they said | |
| Yo le dije que ___ | I told them ___ |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these reporting lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A daily round with the Yak Cards keeps your me dijo and me contó straight.
Open Yak Cards