How to Say ‘Can I tell you something real quick?’ in Mexican Spanish
¿Te puedo decir algo rápido?
teh PWEH-doh deh-SEER AHL-goh RAH-pee-doh
[teh PWEH-doh deh-SEER AHL-goh RAH-pee-doh]
🇲🇽 In Mexico: Asking permission before a compliment softens the approach at a bar. It gives the other person an easy out and reads as respectful rather than pushy.
Phrase Breakdown
¿Te puedo decir
teh PWEH-doh deh-SEER
Can I tell you
A common way to ask permission to speak. Keep a rising question tone.
¿Te puedo decir un secreto?
Can I tell you a secret?
Words in this phrase
Te
[teh]
to you
Indirect object pronoun showing that the information is being told to you.
Si quieres saber más, Te cuento sobre el equipo.
If you want to know more, I’ll tell you about the team.
puedo
[PWEH-doh]
Can I
Used to ask for permission to do something.
¿Puedo entrar?
Can I come in?
decir
[deh-SEER]
to tell / to say
Infinitive verb meaning to say or tell.
¿Puedes decir tu nombre?
Can you say your name?
algo rápido?
AHL-goh RAH-pee-doh
something quick?
'Rápido' means quick. Stress the first syllable: RÁ-pi-do.
Vamos a comer algo rápido.
Let's eat something quick.
Words in this phrase
algo
[AHL-goh]
something
Indefinite pronoun meaning 'something'; refers to an unspecified thing.
Busco algo que me motive más.
I’m looking for something that motivates me more.
rápido
[RAH-pee-doh]
fast / quickly
Adjective or adverb meaning with speed.
Maneja muy rápido.
He drives very fast.
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