Dirtelo

Dirtelo is a contracted Italian verb phrase formed from the verb dire (to tell) together with the clitic pronouns ti (to you) and lo (it). It is not a standalone lexical entry in dictionaries, but a standard example of how Italian models pronoun clitics on a verb. The form illustrates how two clitics can attach to a verb to express “telling it to you” in a compact, colloquial shape.

Grammar and usage

In Italian, clitic pronouns come before the finite verb or are attached to non-finite forms. When two pronouns combine with dire, the resulting enclitic can appear as dirtelo, reflecting the sequence ti + lo. The exact meaning depends on context and pronoun mapping, and dirtelo is most often encountered in spoken language or in dialogue where the speaker wants to convey that information should be conveyed to the listener. Because dirtelo relies on clitic pronouns, its interpretation can shift with tense, mood, or syntactic position of the verb.

Context and notes

Dirtelo serves primarily as a grammatical illustration rather than a common lexical unit. It helps language learners understand clitic stacking and the permissible pronoun order in Italian. In practice, speakers may prefer explicit constructions like “direlo a te” or “dirti qualcosa” in other contexts, depending on emphasis and clarity.

See also: Italian grammar, clitic pronouns, indirect object pronouns, direct object pronouns.