Dis-moi exactement où tu habites.

Tell me exactly where you live.

Breakdown of Dis-moi exactement où tu habites.

• tu: you
• où: where
• me: me
• dire: to tell
• habiter: to live
• exactement: exactly

Questions & Answers about Dis-moi exactement où tu habites.

Why is it Dis-moi and not Dis à moi?

French uses object pronouns with verbs like dire. In an affirmative command, the pronoun is attached after the verb with a hyphen: Dis-moi. The form à moi is reserved for strong emphasis or contrast (e.g., Dis-le à moi, pas à lui), not as the default.

Why is it moi and not me?

In the affirmative imperative, me and te change to moi and toi and are placed after the verb: Dis-moi, Parle-moi. In the negative imperative, they revert to me/te before the verb: Ne me dis pas.

Where do pronouns go in commands?

• Affirmative: after the verb with hyphens, in this order: verb + (le/la/les) + (moi/toi/lui/nous/vous/leur) + (y) + (en). Examples: Dis-le-moi, Donne-m’en, Allez-y.
• Negative: before the verb, standard clitic order. Examples: Ne me le dis pas, N’en parle pas.

How do I say it in the negative?

Ne me dis pas exactement où tu habites. Pronouns go before the verb and there are no hyphens in negative imperatives.

How do I make it polite or address several people?

Use vous and the plural imperative: Dites-moi exactement où vous habitez. This works for formal singular or plural.

Why is it dis and not dit or dites?

Dis is the 2nd-person singular imperative of dire. The imperative forms are dis (tu), disons (nous), dites (vous). Dit is either the 3rd-person present (il/elle dit) or the past participle; it isn’t used for commands.

Can I say Dis-moi où est-ce que tu habites?

No. In an indirect question (after a verb like dire), you cannot use est-ce que. Say Dis-moi où tu habites.

Why is it où tu habites and not où habites-tu?

Because it’s an indirect question. In indirect questions, French keeps normal statement order (subject + verb): où tu habites. In a direct question you’d use inversion or est-ce que: Où habites-tu ? / Où est-ce que tu habites ?

What’s the difference between où and ou? Is the accent required?

• où (with accent) = where.
• ou (no accent) = or.
  The accent is mandatory here. Dis-moi ou tu habites would be wrong/ambiguous.

Why is it habites and not habite?

The subject is tu, so a regular -er verb takes -es: tu habites. The final -s is silent; you pronounce [abit]. Je/il/elle habite would use habite.

Can I use vivre instead of habiter?

Yes: Dis-moi où tu vis. Habiter focuses on residing at an address; vivre is broader (to live, in general) but also works for residence. For a precise address, habiter is more typical.

Does habiter need a preposition?

With cities you can say either J’habite Paris or J’habite à Paris. With addresses, use standard patterns like J’habite au 12, rue Victor Hugo or J’habite dans la rue Victor Hugo. In your sentence, no preposition is needed.

Where can I put exactement?

All are natural:

• Dis-moi exactement où tu habites.
• Dis-moi où tu habites exactement.
• Dis-moi précisément où tu habites. Putting exactement right before où slightly emphasizes the precision of the location; at the end is very common in speech.

Is exactement necessary? Any alternatives?

It’s optional. Common alternatives: précisément, clairement (for clarity), or you can omit it: Dis-moi où tu habites.

Why is there a hyphen in Dis-moi? Is Dis moi acceptable?

No. In affirmative imperatives, object pronouns must be attached with a hyphen: Dis-moi, Parlez-lui, Donnez-le-moi. Writing Dis moi is a spelling error.

Where do I put s’il te plaît / s’il vous plaît?

Either position works (use commas):

• Dis-moi exactement où tu habites, s’il te plaît.
• S’il vous plaît, dites-moi exactement où vous habitez.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• Dis: [di].
• moi: [mwa].
• exactement: [ɛg.zak.tə.mɑ̃] (the t is heard).
• où: [u].
• tu: [ty].
• habites: [abit]; final -s silent; the h is mute, so it flows: [ty a.bit].

How would I say “Tell me it” or “Tell me about it” using two pronouns?

Use the affirmative imperative order: verb + le/la/les + moi/toi/lui/nous/vous/leur + y + en.

• Dis-le-moi. (Tell me it.)
• Parlez-m’en. (Tell me about it.)
  Not Dis-moi-le. In the negative: Ne me le dis pas.
  Note: with en or y, moi/toi become m’/t’ for euphony: Donne-m’en, Vas-y.

Is Où tu habites ? okay as a direct question?

Informally, yes—people also say Tu habites où ? In careful or written French, prefer Où habites-tu ? or Où est-ce que tu habites ? In an indirect question like your sentence, you must use où tu habites.