Word choice · CEFR A2
“Said me” or “told me”? Say vs tell explained
Incorrect
He said me
Correct
He told me
Use “told me” or “said to me”. Tell takes the person directly (“She told me the answer”); say does not (“She said the answer was B”).
The rule
tell + person (+ information): tell me, tell him the truth, tell us what happened.
say + words (no person): say hello, say that you’re sorry. If you mention the person, add to: “She said to me that…”
Fixed phrases with tell: tell a story, tell a lie, tell the truth, tell a joke, tell the time.
Examples
✗ He said me he was tired.
✓ He told me he was tired.
✗ She told that she was busy.
✓ She said that she was busy.
✗ Can you say me the time?
✓ Can you tell me the time?
Why learners make this mistake
Many languages have one verb for both meanings (Spanish decir, French dire, Portuguese dizer), so learners pick one English verb and use it for everything.
Remember
You TELL someone. You SAY something.
Frequently asked questions
- Is “said to me” natural?
- It is grammatical but less common. “Told me” sounds more natural in most everyday sentences.
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