Say vs. Tell: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on November 13, 2023
"Say" refers to uttering words or expressing something, while "Tell" involves providing specific information or instructions to someone.
Key Differences
"Say" is a verb that primarily focuses on the act of expressing or stating something. People often use "Say" when they are reporting someone's speech or when they want to indicate the act of verbalizing. On the other hand, "Tell" is used when there's a recipient of the message or when we're providing specific details or instructions. For example, we "Say" something at a conference, but we "Tell" something to a colleague.
Another distinction lies in the sentence structure. When using "Say," there isn't always an indirect object present. A person can simply "Say" words. With "Tell," however, there's usually an implied or stated recipient of the information. You "Tell" someone a fact, story, or piece of information. Direct and indirect speech also plays a role. We often use "Say" with direct speech, marked with quotation marks. In contrast, "Tell" is more commonly used with indirect speech.
It's worth noting that both "Say" and "Tell" have various meanings and can be used in multiple contexts. However, in the context of reporting speech or sharing information, the aforementioned rules often apply. For learners of English, understanding the nuances between "Say" and "Tell" can be crucial in ensuring effective and accurate communication.
Comparison Chart
Function
Expressing or stating something
Providing specific information or instructions
Structure
Doesn't always need an indirect object
Usually requires an indirect object
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Use with Speech
Common with direct speech
More common with indirect speech
Examples
"She said, 'hello'."
"She told him the truth."
Implied Recipient
Not always present
Typically present
Say and Tell Definitions
Say
To repeat or recite aloud.
Can you say the alphabet backward?
Tell
To provide information or communicate facts.
Please tell me your name.
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Say
To indicate or communicate.
The sign says “Exit.”
Tell
To inform someone of a fact or detail.
She told him about her day.
Say
To assume as a hypothesis or possibility.
Let's say, for argument's sake, that she's right.
Tell
To communicate by speech or writing; express with words
She told him that the store was closed. Tell me the truth.
Say
To utter aloud; pronounce
The children said, "Good morning.".
Tell
To give a detailed account of; narrate
Told what happened.
Told us a story.
Say
To express in words
Say what's on your mind.
Tell
To notify (someone) of something; inform
He told us of his dream to sail around the world.
Say
To state as an opinion or judgment; declare
I say let's eat out.
Tell
To make known; disclose or reveal
Tell a secret.
Tell fortunes.
Say
To state as a determination of fact
It's hard to say who is right in this matter.
Tell
To inform (someone) positively; assure
I tell you, the plan will work.
Say
To report or maintain; allege
It is said he is a fraud.
Tell
To give instructions to; direct
Told the customers to wait in line.
Say
To repeat or recite
Said grace.
Tell
To discover by observation; discern
We could tell that he was upset.
Say
To indicate; show
The clock says half past two.
Tell
To name or number one by one; count
Telling one's blessings.
16 windows, all told.
Say
To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody
It was an act that said "devotion.".
Tell
To relate a story or give an account of an event
The sailor told of having been adrift for days.
Say
To suppose; assume
Let's say that you're right.
Tell
To reveal something that is not supposed to be revealed, especially something that someone has done wrong
She promised not to tell on her friend.
Say
To make a statement or express an opinion or judgment
The story must be true because the teacher said so.
Tell
To have an effect or impact
In this game every move tells.
Say
A turn or chance to speak
Having had my say, I sat down.
Tell
An unintentional or unconsciously exhibited behavior that reveals or betrays one's state of mind, as when playing poker.
Say
The right or power to influence or make a decision
Citizens have a say in the councils of government. All I want is some say in the matter.
Tell
A mound, especially in the Middle East, made up of the remains of a succession of previous settlements.
Say
(Archaic) Something said; a statement.
Tell
To count, reckon, or enumerate.
All told, there were over a dozen.
Can you tell time on a clock?
He had untold wealth.
Say
Approximately
There were, say, 500 people present.
Tell
To narrate.
I want to tell a story;
I want to tell you a story.
Say
For instance
A woodwind, say an oboe.
Tell
To convey by speech; to say.
Finally, someone told him the truth.
He seems to like to tell lies.
Say
Used to express surprise or appeal for someone's attention.
Tell
(transitive) To instruct or inform.
Please tell me how to do it.
Say
(transitive) To pronounce.
Please say your name slowly and clearly.
Tell
(transitive) To order; to direct, to say to someone.
Tell him to go away.
Say
(transitive) To recite.
Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?
Tell
To discern, notice, identify or distinguish.
Can you tell whether those flowers are real or silk, from this distance?
No, there's no way to tell.
I can tell you're upset.
An expert can tell an original from a forgery.
Say
(transitive) To tell, either verbally or in writing.
He said he would be here tomorrow.
Tell
(transitive) To reveal.
Time will tell what became of him.
Say
(transitive) To indicate in a written form.
The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
Tell
(intransitive) To be revealed.
Say
To have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.
They say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", which means "behave as those around you do."
Tell
(intransitive) To have an effect, especially a noticeable one; to be apparent, to be demonstrated.
Sir Gerald was moving slower; his wounds were beginning to tell.
Say
Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis.
A holiday somewhere warm – Florida, say – would be nice.
Say he refuses. What do we do then?
Say your family is starving and you don't have any money, is it okay to steal some food?
Tell
To use (beads or similar objects) as an aid to prayer.
Say
(intransitive) To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
Tell
To inform someone in authority about a wrongdoing.
I saw you steal those sweets! I'm telling!
Say
To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to express belief in an outcome by the speaker.
Tell
To reveal information in prose through outright expository statement -- contrasted with show
Maria rewrote the section of her novel that talked about Meg and Sage's friendship to have less telling and more showing.
Say
To try; to assay.
Tell
A reflexive, often habitual behavior, especially one occurring in a context that often features attempts at deception by persons under psychological stress (such as a poker game or police interrogation), that reveals information that the person exhibiting the behavior is attempting to withhold.
Say
A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.
Tell
(archaic) That which is told; a tale or account.
Say
A type of fine cloth similar to serge.
Tell
(internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room; a whisper.
Say
Trial by sample; assay; specimen.
Tell
(archaeology) A hill or mound, originally and especially in the Middle East, over or consisting of the ruins of ancient settlements.
Say
Tried quality; temper; proof.
Tell
To mention one by one, or piece by piece; to recount; to enumerate; to reckon; to number; to count; as, to tell money.
He telleth the number of the stars.
Tell the joints of the body.
Say
Essay; trial; attempt.
Tell
To utter or recite in detail; to give an account of; to narrate.
Of which I shall tell all the array.
And not a man appears to tell their fate.
Say
For example; let us assume.
Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach.
He was driving pretty fast, say, fifty miles per hour.
Tell
To make known; to publish; to disclose; to divulge.
Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
Say
(colloquial) Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion
Say, what did you think about the movie?
Tell
To give instruction to; to make report to; to acquaint; to teach; to inform.
A secret pilgrimage,That you to-day promised to tell me of?
Say
Saw.
Tell
To order; to request; to command.
He told her not to be frightened.
Say
Trial by sample; assay; sample; specimen; smack.
If those principal works of God . . . be but certain tastes and says, as it were, of that final benefit.
Thy tongue some say of breeding breathes.
Tell
To discern so as to report; to ascertain by observing; to find out; to discover; as, I can not tell where one color ends and the other begins.
Say
Tried quality; temper; proof.
He found a sword of better say.
Tell
To make account of; to regard; to reckon; to value; to estimate.
I ne told no dainity of her love.
Say
Essay; trial; attempt.
Tell
To give an account; to make report.
That I may publish with the voice of thankgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
Say
A kind of silk or satin.
Thou say, thou serge, nay, thou buckram lord!
Tell
To take effect; to produce a marked effect; as, every shot tells; every expression tells.
Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David.
Say
A delicate kind of serge, or woolen cloth.
His garment neither was of silk nor say.
Tell
That which is told; tale; account.
I am at the end of my tell.
Say
A speech; something said; an expression of opinion; a current story; a maxim or proverb.
He no sooner said out his say, but up rises a cunning snap.
That strange palmer's boding say,That fell so ominous and drearFull on the object of his fear.
Tell
A hill or mound.
Say
To try; to assay.
Tell
A Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
Say
To utter or express in words; to tell; to speak; to declare; as, he said many wise things.
Arise, and say how thou camest here.
Tell
Express in words;
He said that he wanted to marry her
Tell me what is bothering you
State your opinion
State your name
Say
To repeat; to rehearse; to recite; to pronounce; as, to say a lesson.
Of my instruction hast thou nothing batedIn what thou hadst to say?
After which shall be said or sung the following hymn.
Tell
Let something be known;
Tell them that you will be late
Say
To announce as a decision or opinion; to state positively; to assert; hence, to form an opinion upon; to be sure about; to be determined in mind as to.
But what it is, hard is to say.
Tell
Narrate or give a detailed account of;
Tell what happened
The father told a story to his child
Say
To mention or suggest as an estimate, hypothesis, or approximation; hence, to suppose; - in the imperative, followed sometimes by the subjunctive; as, he had, say fifty thousand dollars; the fox had run, say ten miles.
Say, for nonpayment that the debt should double,Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?
Tell
Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority;
I said to him to go home
She ordered him to do the shopping
The mother told the child to get dressed
Say
To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.
You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the forest judge.
To this argument we shall soon have said; for what concerns it us to hear a husband divulge his household privacies?
Tell
Discern or comprehend;
He could tell that she was unhappy
Say
The chance to speak;
Let him have his say
Tell
Inform positively and with certainty and confidence;
I tell you that man is a crook!
Say
Express in words;
He said that he wanted to marry her
Tell me what is bothering you
State your opinion
State your name
Tell
Give evidence;
He was telling on all his former colleague
Say
Report or maintain;
He alleged that he was the victim of a crime
He said it was too late to intervene in the war
The registrar says that I owe the school money
Tell
Mark as different;
We distinguish several kinds of maple
Say
Express a supposition;
Let us say that he did not tell the truth
Let's say you had a lot of money--what would you do?
Tell
To narrate a story or event.
He will tell a tale of his adventures.
Say
Have or contain a certain wording or form;
The passage reads as follows
What does the law say?
Tell
To instruct or order.
The teacher told the students to sit down.
Say
State as one's opinion or judgement; declare;
I say let's forget this whole business
Tell
To discern or distinguish.
I can't tell the difference between the two.
Say
Utter aloud;
She said `Hello' to everyone in the office
Say
Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority;
I said to him to go home
She ordered him to do the shopping
The mother told the child to get dressed
Say
Speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way;
She pronounces French words in a funny way
I cannot say `zip wire'
Can the child sound out this complicated word?
Say
Recite or repeat a fixed text;
Say grace
She said her `Hail Mary'
Say
Communicate or express nonverbally;
What does this painting say?
Did his face say anything about how he felt?
Say
Indicate;
The clock says noon
Say
To utter words or express thoughts.
He will say his opinion at the meeting.
Say
To state a fact or opinion.
They say it's going to rain tomorrow.
FAQs
Can "Say" and "Tell" be used interchangeably?
Not always, as they have different structures and nuances.
Can "Say" be used in questions?
Yes, e.g., "What did he say?"
Can "Say" be used without quoting speech?
Yes, e.g., "I couldn't say what he meant."
Does "Tell" imply a longer form of communication?
Not necessarily, but it often involves providing details or instructions.
Is there always a recipient when using "Tell"?
Usually, as "Tell" often conveys information to someone.
Which verb is more formal, "Say" or "Tell"?
Neither is inherently more formal; context determines formality.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
