Spanish Phrase
Describe el problema paso a paso.
Meaning
A direct instruction telling someone to explain the problem in a sequential, detailed manner, moving from the first step to the last.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need a clear, methodical explanation—e.g., in technical support, classroom problem‑solving, or when guiding a colleague through a troubleshooting process.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Describeelproblemapasoapaso
Imperative (tú)
‘Describe’ is the affirmative imperative form of the verb describir for the informal second‑person singular (tú).
Definite article
‘el’ is the masculine singular definite article that agrees with the noun ‘problema’.
Masculine noun
‘problema’ is a masculine noun despite ending in -a; it takes ‘el’ in the singular.
Idiomatic expression
‘paso a paso’ is a fixed phrase meaning ‘step by step’; each word is kept separate.
🗨In Conversation
Describe el problema paso a paso, por favor.
Please describe the problem step by step.
Claro, primero el programa se cierra al abrir el archivo, luego aparece un mensaje de error...
Sure, first the program crashes when I open the file, then an error message appears...
✕Common Mistakes
Describa el problema paso a paso.
‘Describa’ is the formal imperative; use it only when speaking to someone you’d address with ‘usted’. For informal contexts, ‘Describe’ is correct.
Describe el problema pasos a pasos.
The idiom is fixed as ‘paso a paso’; adding plural ‘s’ makes it ungrammatical.
Describe los problema paso a paso.
The article must agree with ‘problema’; ‘los’ would incorrectly refer to ‘pasos’. Keep the original order.
↔Alternatives
Explique el problema detalladamente.
Explain the problem in detail.
Describa el problema paso a paso.
Describe the problem step by step. (formal)
Cuéntame el problema paso a paso.
Tell me the problem step by step.
Cultural Tip
‘Describe’ is informal (tú). In a professional or formal setting you should switch to the formal imperative ‘Describa’. Also, avoid adding an extra ‘s’ – the correct idiom is ‘paso a paso’, not ‘pasos a pasos’. The phrase works across most Spanish‑speaking countries, but in some regions people may prefer ‘explica’ instead of ‘describe’.