mention vs tell

mention is a noun but tell is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
mention	Yes	No	Yes	No
tell	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, tell is a hypernym of mention; that is, tell is a word with a broader meaning than mention:

Other hypernyms of mention include say, state.

mention (noun)	tell (noun)
an official recognition of merit
a remark that calls attention to something or someone
a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

mention (verb)	tell (verb)
make mention of	discern or comprehend
commend	mark as different
make reference to	let something be known
	narrate or give a detailed account of
	give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
	give evidence
	express in words
	inform positively and with certainty and confidence