Gritarle

Gritarle is a Spanish verb phrase formed by gritar (to shout) and the clitic le, used to indicate that the act of shouting is directed at someone. It is typically written as gritarle, and can be used with the explicit recipient “a alguien” as in gritarle a Juan. The construction emphasizes the target of the shout more than the act of shouting itself.

Usage and nuance

Gritarle conveys a strong or emphatic form of shouting, often associated with anger, admonition, or urgency. It can describe literal loud shouting or a forceful rebuke. Examples include “Le grité a mi hermano para que dejara de molestar” (I shouted at my brother to stop bothering) and “No me grites” (Don’t shout at me). The recipient is usually a person, but can be a group or crowd in contexts such as “gritarle a la multitud.”

Grammar and conjugation

Gritarle uses the indirect-object clitic le to mark the target. In present tense: yo le grito, tú le gritas, él le grita, nosotros le gritamos, vosotros le gritáis, ellos le gritan. In the preterite: yo le grité, tú le gritaste, él le gritó, nosotros le gritamos, vosotros le gritasteis, ellos le gritaron. The infinitive includes the pronoun: gritarle, and in compound tenses the pronoun can attach to a nonfinite form (gritarle a alguien, estoy gritándole a Juan, voy a gritarle).

Regional notes

The use and placement of le as a dative clitic are common across Spanish varieties. Some contexts may optionally include a explicit recipient with a or a proper name (gritarle a alguien). Related terms include gritar (general shouting), vociferar (more formal), and berrear (colloquial).

See also

Clitic pronouns in Spanish; verb gritar; Spanish diathesis of indirect objects.