tell someone tell someone something "tell" is always directed to someone or a group of people, even if implied. say something say something to someone "say" is to utter, to make words into speech. People who talk to themselves are saying something.

Say focuses on the words someone said and tell focuses more on the content or message of what someone said: 'Hello,' she said. Not: 'Hello,' she told. The verb 'to tell' has to have an object, it's a transitive verb. "I told you to be quiet." "You asked me a question, so I told you the answer." "Tell me, why are you learning English?" The verb 'to say' is intransitive. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"