New here? This is lesson 222 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.
Free Spanish CourseLesson 222 of 238
I need to tell you something in Spanish
Justin has been waiting, and Megan's attempt to make the awkward moment funny didn't work.
In this B2 lesson, you'll explain a feeling without turning it into an accusation, then invite a clear conversation.
You'll also practice acknowledging the part where your friend is right. The goal isn't a dramatic confrontation; it's a useful, honest exchange between friends.
By the end of this lesson
Explain how something made you feel and ask a friend to clear things up.
- Necesito decirte algoI need to tell you something
- Me sentí ___ cuando ___I felt ___ when ___
- No es un reclamoThis isn't an attack
- ¿Podemos dejar las cosas claras?Can we make things clear?
- Gracias por decírmelo asíThanks for putting it like that
- Tienes razón en esa parteYou're right about that part
Scene — a joke that missed
At Café Laurel, Justin has finally found Megan after waiting for her. She made a clumsy joke about arriving late, but the joke only made the moment more uncomfortable.
Michael is nearby, quietly locking an empty tin while Yako keeps the card safe.
Learn — clear, honest feedback
These six chunks help you raise a personal issue with care. They let you name what happened, describe its effect, and keep the conversation open.
Notice how the language separates the action from the person. That makes honest feedback sound firm without sounding hostile.
Necesito decirte algo
I need to tell you something
When to use it: Use this to signal that you need to discuss something personal or important.
It can sound serious, so your tone and the next sentence show whether this is concern or confrontation.
Say it: The stress falls on SI in ne-ce-SI-to and on CIR in de-CIR-te.
Me sentí ___ cuando ___
I felt ___ when ___
When to use it: Use this frame to describe your emotional reaction to a specific action or moment.
Fill the first blank with a feeling and the second with the event that caused it.
Say it: Sentí has stress on the final í; keep both blanks clearly separate.
No es un reclamo
This isn't an attack
When to use it: Say this when you want feedback to be understood as an explanation, not a personal attack.
In Mexico, reclamo can mean a complaint or reproach, so this phrase softens a difficult subject.
Say it: Reclamo sounds like reh-KLAH-moh, with a clear rolled or tapped r.
¿Podemos dejar las cosas claras?
Can we make things clear?
When to use it: Use this to invite a direct conversation when there is confusion or unresolved tension.
It is direct but cooperative because podemos presents clarity as something you will work on together.
Say it: Keep the stress on DE-jar, CO-sas, and CLA-ras.
Gracias por decírmelo así
Thanks for putting it like that
When to use it: Say this when someone gives you difficult feedback in a respectful, understandable way.
Así refers to the manner of speaking, not necessarily agreement with every detail.
Say it: Decírmelo has stress on the í: deh-SEER-meh-lo.
Tienes razón en esa parte
You're right about that part
When to use it: Use this to acknowledge one valid point without claiming that you agree with everything.
En esa parte limits the agreement, which is useful when a conversation contains several separate issues.
Say it: Razón carries the stress on the final syllable: rah-SON.
Story — waiting and explaining
Watch Justin explain why Megan's joke made the waiting worse, without turning the conversation into a fight.
The highlighted chunks give him a structure for being direct, specific, and fair. Show English is available if you need it.
- Justin has been waiting at Café Laurel. Michael has locked an empty tin, and Yako took the card to keep it safe.
JustinQué pena.What a shame.- MeganPerdón por llegar tan tarde. Y luego mi chiste salió mal.Sorry for arriving so late. And then my joke fell flat.
- JustinNecesito decirte algo.I need to tell you something.
- MeganSí, dime. ¿Estás molesto conmigo?Yes, tell me. Are you upset with me?
- JustinMe sentí frustrado cuando me dejaste esperando.I felt frustrated when you left me waiting.
- MeganEntiendo. Pensé que el chiste iba a quitarle peso al momento.I understand. I thought the joke would make the moment feel less heavy.
- JustinNo es un reclamo; solo quería explicarte cómo me cayó.This isn't an attack; I just wanted to explain how it felt to me.
- MeganGracias por decírmelo así. No quería hacerte sentir ignorado.Thanks for putting it like that. I didn't mean to make you feel ignored.
- Justin¿Podemos dejar las cosas claras?Can we make things clear?
- MeganSí. La próxima vez te aviso si voy a retrasarme.Yes. Next time I'll let you know if I'm going to be late.
- JustinTienes razón en esa parte: yo también pude haberte escrito.You're right about that part: I could have texted you too.
- MeganY yo pude contestarte antes. Seguimos siendo amigos, ¿va?And I could have answered you sooner. We're still friends, okay?
- JustinVa. Gracias por escucharme.Okay. Thanks for listening to me.
MichaelEl tin está vacío, pero quedó bien cerrado.The tin is empty, but it got locked securely.- MeganNos vemos mañana, Justin.See you tomorrow, Justin.
Practice — say what you mean
You'll hear the chunks, match meanings, choose replies, and build complete lines. Some choices test whether you can tell a direct complaint from a careful explanation.
Read the situation closely before choosing; tone matters as much as vocabulary here.
0 of 12 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Spanish
Necesito decirte algoDrop the English hereNo es un reclamoDrop the English here¿Podemos dejar las cosas claras?Drop the English hereTienes razón en esa parteDrop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Megan is ready to listen, and you need to raise a personal issue before explaining the details.
Pick the reply
Megan says:
Pick the reply
¿Estás molesto conmigo?
Are you upset with me?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Me sentí ___ cuando ___
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want to say that your feedback is meant to explain your experience, not to attack Megan.
Build the line
Build the line
Can we make things clear?
¿ ?
Tap the words in order.
True or false?
True or false?
This line thanks someone for explaining a difficult point respectfully.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Megan admits that she should have answered sooner, and you agree with that specific point.
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
True or false?
True or false?
This is a line from this lesson.
Say it — have the conversation
Now you'll take Justin's side in a short conversation with Megan. Say each highlighted line naturally, keeping the tone direct but friendly.
Tap ▶ to hear the model line, then tap the microphone when it's your turn. Your recording stays on your device.
- MeganPerdón por llegar tarde. ¿Qué pasa?Sorry for arriving late. What's going on?
- Justin (you)Tell Megan you need to tell her something.
Tell Megan you need to tell her something.
Necesito decirte algo
I need to tell you something
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Spanish | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Necesito decirte algo | I need to tell you something | |
| Me sentí ___ cuando ___ | I felt ___ when ___ | |
| No es un reclamo | This isn't an attack | |
| ¿Podemos dejar las cosas claras? | Can we make things clear? | |
| Gracias por decírmelo así | Thanks for putting it like that | |
| Tienes razón en esa parte | You're right about that part |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
Want the next lesson in your inbox?
Get the next lesson by email, one a day.
Join the newsletterDaily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.
Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these careful conversation chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
Review one feeling sentence and one clarity phrase today so difficult conversations feel more manageable.
Open Yak Cards