Spanish 1000
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B115 min read

lo + adjective

lo importante, lo bueno — turn adjectives into abstract nouns (Spain Spanish)

In this guide6 sections
  1. What lo + adjective means
  2. lo + adjective — the core pattern
  3. lo que — what / the thing that
  4. lo de — that business / that thing about
  5. lo + adjective vs el/la + adjective
  6. Practice 1 — 10 questions

What lo + adjective means

Lo + masculine adjective turns an adjective into an abstract noun — “the … thing” or “what is …”.

Lo importante es la salud = The important thing is health.

The adjective is always masculine singular after lo , even if the idea is feminine.

lo + adjective — the core pattern

Pattern: Lo + adjective + ser/estar + …

Very common in opinions, summaries, and emphasis.

  • Lo importante es la salud.The important thing is health.
  • Lo bueno es que tenemos tiempo.The good thing is we have time.
  • Lo malo es que llueve.The bad thing is it is raining.
  • Lo difícil será convencerles.The difficult part will be convincing them.
  • Lo mejor es llegar pronto.The best thing is to arrive early.
  • Lo peor es no saber qué pasó.The worst thing is not knowing what happened.

lo que — what / the thing that

Lo que introduces a clause (with a verb): “what …” or “the thing that …”.

Lo que me gusta es el café = What I like is coffee.

  • Lo que me gusta es el café.What I like is coffee.
  • No entiendo lo que dices.I do not understand what you are saying.
  • Lo que más me molesta es el ruido.What bothers me most is the noise.
  • Dime lo que necesitáis.Tell me what you all need.
  • Lo que pasó ayer fue increíble.What happened yesterday was incredible.
  • Aprecio lo que habéis hecho.I appreciate what you all have done.

lo de — that business / that thing about

Lo de + noun/infinitive/name = “that thing about …”, “the business of …” — very colloquial in Spain.

Lo de ayer = That thing yesterday / What happened yesterday.

  • ¿Qué tal lo de ayer?How did that thing yesterday go?
  • Lo de María es complicado.The María situation is complicated.
  • Hablamos de lo del concierto.We talked about the concert thing.
  • Lo de mudarnos nos preocupa.This moving business worries us.
  • ¿Habéis oído lo de la nueva ley?Have you all heard about the new law?
  • Lo de llegar tarde no me gusta.I do not like this arriving-late thing.

lo + adjective vs el/la + adjective

lo + adjectiveel/la + adjective
TypeAbstract ideaConcrete noun (person/thing)
ExampleLo nuevo me sorprende.Lo nuevo del móvil es la cámara.
ExampleLo español es difícil.El español que hablan allí.
TranslationWhat is new / The new thing (abstract)The new one / The Spanish (language)
  • Lo nuevo siempre asusta un poco.What is new always scares a little.
  • Lo interesante del libro es el final.The interesting part of the book is the ending.
  • Lo español no es tan difícil.Spanish is not that difficult. (the language, abstract)
  • Lo mejor de la fiesta fue la tarta.The best part of the party was the cake.
  • No me gusta lo barato — se rompe.I do not like cheap stuff — it breaks.
  • Lo que os dije es confidencial.What I told you all is confidential.

Practice 1 — 10 questions

The important thing is health →

What I like is coffee →

The good thing is we have time →

I do not understand what you say →

The best thing is to arrive early →

How did that thing yesterday go? →

What bothers me most is the noise →

The bad thing is it is raining →

Tell me what you all need →

The worst thing is not knowing →