English · Word Candidate

tell

[tʰɔː]

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: tells · telling · told

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Mental senses related to determining, reckoning, or perceiving — To determine the number, amount, or value of [something].

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Xác định số lượng, lượng hoặc giá trị

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

All told, there were over a dozen. Can you tell time on a clock? He had untold wealth.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Mental senses related to determining, reckoning, or perceiving — To notice, discern. (Roughly, "can tell" means "know" but with a sense of direct perception.)

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Nhận thấy, phân biệt

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

I can tell that you're thrilled.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Hành vi tự nhiên, thường là thói quen, tiết lộ thông tin bị che giấu

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A giveaway; something that unintentionally reveals or hints at a secret.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Dấu hiệu tiết lộ hoặc gợi ý một bí mật

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

NounRegister: informal

Examples

Those whose business it is to verify luxury bags insist, at least publicly, that there’s always a “tell” to a superfake.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “tell” mean?

Mental senses related to determining, reckoning, or perceiving — To determine the number, amount, or value of [something].

Is “tell” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.