Spanish 1000
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A215 min read

Object pronouns

Direct & indirect — me, te, lo, la, le, nos, os, los, las (Spain es-ES)

In this guide6 sections
  1. Two object types
  2. Direct object pronouns — full table
  3. Indirect object pronouns — full table
  4. le → se before lo/la/los/las
  5. Placement — where pronouns go
  6. Quick check — 12 questions

Two object types

Spanish replaces full noun objects with short pronouns . There are two kinds:

• Direct object (DO) — what receives the action directly: I see her , I buy it .
• Indirect object (IO) — to/for whom something is done: I give her flowers, I tell you .

In Spain you will hear vosotros/os forms daily. Pronouns usually go before a conjugated verb or attached to an infinitive, gerund, or affirmative command.

Direct object pronouns — full table

Direct objects answer ¿Qué? or ¿A quién? (when the person is the target of the action). Gender and number must match the noun replaced.

PersonPronounReplacesExample
1st sing.meme / to me (DO)¿Me ves? (Do you see me?)
2nd sing. (tú)teyou (DO)Te escucho. (I hear you.)
3rd sing. masc.lohim / it (masc.)Lo compro. (I buy it.)
3rd sing. fem.laher / it (fem.)La conozco. (I know her.)
1st pl.nosusNos invitan. (They invite us.)
2nd pl. (vosotros)osyou all (DO)Os espero. (I am waiting for you all.)
3rd pl. masc.losthem (masc.)Los veo. (I see them.)
3rd pl. fem.lasthem (fem.)Las quiero. (I love them.)
  • ¿La has visto?Have you seen her / it (fem.)?
  • No lo entiendo.I don't understand it (masc.).
  • ¿Me oís?Can you all hear me? (Spain — oír → oís)
  • Os llamo esta tarde.I will call you all this afternoon.
  • Los encontré en el mercado.I found them (masc.) at the market.
  • Las preparo para la cena.I am preparing them (fem.) for dinner.

Indirect object pronouns — full table

Indirect objects answer ¿A quién? / ¿Para quién? — the recipient. Many verbs take IO: dar , decir , escribir , enviar , prestar , mandar .

PersonPronounMeaningExample
1st sing.meto/for meMe da el libro. (He gives me the book.)
2nd sing. (tú)teto/for youTe escribo mañana. (I will write to you tomorrow.)
3rd sing.leto/for him / her / ustedLe mando un mensaje. (I send him/her/you a message.)
1st pl.nosto/for usNos explican la lección. (They explain the lesson to us.)
2nd pl. (vosotros)osto/for you allOs compro entradas. (I buy you all tickets.)
3rd pl.lesto/for them / ustedesLes doy las llaves. (I give them the keys.)
  • ¿Te gusta el café?Do you like coffee? (lit. Does coffee please you?)
  • Le presto mi móvil.I lend him/her my phone.
  • Os envío el enlace por WhatsApp.I send you all the link on WhatsApp.
  • Les recomiendo este restaurante.I recommend this restaurant to them.
  • ¿Me puedes ayudar?Can you help me?
  • No nos dicen nada.They do not tell us anything.

le → se before lo/la/los/las

When le or les appears before a direct object pronoun (lo, la, los, las), it changes to se — never le lo or les lo .

✅ Se lo doy. · ✅ Se la muestro. · ✅ Se los compro.
❌ Le lo doy. · ❌ Les la envío.

This is not reflexive se — it is a spelling change to avoid awkward sound combinations.

  • Se lo explico a Juan.I explain it to Juan. (to him + it)
  • Se la regalo a mi hermana.I give it (fem.) to my sister as a gift.
  • Se los mando mañana.I will send them (masc.) to them tomorrow.
  • ¿Se lo has dicho ya?Have you already told him/her (it)?
  • Os lo digo a vosotros.I tell you all (it). (IO os + DO lo — no change)
  • No se lo compres.Don't buy it for him/her. (negative command — pronouns before verb)

Placement — where pronouns go

Rule 1 — before conjugated verb (including negative commands):
Lo veo. · No me lo digas. · ¿ Te ayudo?

Rule 2 — attached to infinitive (one word):
Quiero ver lo . · Voy a decír te lo. · ¿Puedes prestár me lo?

Rule 3 — attached to gerund (-ando/-iendo) :
Estoy ley éndolo . · Sigue escribi éndome .

Rule 4 — attached to affirmative command (add accent if needed):
¡Dí melo ! · Explíca selo . · No me lo digas. (negative → before verb)

Both pronouns stay together — before the verb or both attached; never split.

  • Lo veo desde aquí.I see it from here. (before conjugated verb)
  • No me lo prestes.Don't lend it to me. (negative command — before verb)
  • Quiero comprarlo.I want to buy it. (attached to infinitive)
  • Voy a enviártelo.I am going to send it to you. (infinitive + two pronouns)
  • Estoy preparándolo.I am preparing it. (attached to gerund)
  • Seguimos enseñándoos la ciudad.We keep showing you all the city. (gerund + os)
  • ¡Dímelo!Tell me (it)! (affirmative command — attached)
  • Explícaselo a ella.Explain it to her. (command + se lo → selo)

Quick check — 12 questions

I see her (the book = fem.) →

They invite us →

I give him the keys →

I am waiting for you all (Spain) →

I explain it to him (le + lo) →

I want to buy it →

I am reading it (gerund) →

Tell me (it)! (command) →

Don't tell me →

I send them (fem.) to you all →

Can you lend it to me? →

I buy them (masc.) for them →