Pronoun order · Spanish 1000

When two pronouns combine

Spanish often uses two object pronouns with one verb: He gave it to me → Me lo dieron. The order is fixed — you cannot rearrange pronouns.

Both pronouns go before the conjugated verb or both attach at the end (infinitive, gerund, affirmative command). They never split around the verb.

Me lo dieron ayer.They gave it to me yesterday.
¿Te la puedo prestar?Can I lend it (fem.) to you?
Os lo explico ahora.I will explain it to you all now.
No nos lo han dicho.They have not told us (it).
Quiero devolvértelo.I want to return it to you.
Estoy preparándooslo.I am preparing it for you all.

The RID rule

1Reflexiveme · te · se · nos · os · se

2Indirectme · te · le · nos · os · les

3Directme · te · lo/la · nos · os · los/las

Example: Me lo dieron · Se lo digo (le → se before lo)

Order is always Reflexive → Indirect → Direct ( RID ):

1. Reflexive (se, me, te, nos, os) — only when the verb is reflexive
2. Indirect (me, te, le, nos, os, les)
3. Direct (me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las)

Examples: Me lo dieron · Te la muestro · Se lo digo · Nos las traen.

Pattern	Breakdown	Meaning
me lo	IO me + DO lo	to me + it (masc.)
te la	IO te + DO la	to you + it (fem.)
se lo	IO le→se + DO lo	to him/her/them + it
nos los	IO nos + DO los	to us + them (masc.)
os las	IO os + DO las	to you all + them (fem.)
se las	IO les→se + DO las	to them + them (fem.)

¿Me lo prestas?Will you lend it to me?
Te la envío por correo.I send it (fem.) to you by post.
Se lo compro a mis padres.I buy it for my parents.
Nos los explican en clase.They explain them to us in class.
Os las traigo mañana.I will bring them (fem.) to you all tomorrow.
No me lo digas.Don't tell me (it).

le / les → se before lo, la, los, las

When the indirect pronoun is le or les and a direct pronoun follows, le/les always becomes se :

✅ Se lo di. · ✅ Se la dije. · ✅ Se los regalé.
❌ Le lo di. · ❌ Les la mandé.

Add a él / a ella / a usted / a ellos after the verb if you need to clarify who se refers to.

Se lo di a Pedro.I gave it to Pedro.
Se la mostré a ella.I showed it (fem.) to her.
Se los compré a mis hijos.I bought them (masc.) for my children.
¿Se lo habéis dicho ya?Have you all already told him/her (it)?
No se lo digas a tu jefe.Don't tell your boss (it).
Voy a explicárselo a usted.I am going to explain it to you (formal).

Accent marks when pronouns attach

When pronouns attach to a verb, the stress may fall on a new syllable. Spanish adds a written accent to keep pronunciation correct:

• dímelo (from decir + me + lo) — stress on di
• devuélvemelo (devolver + me + lo)
• explíqueselo (explique + se + lo) — formal command
• preparándooslo (gerund + os + lo)

Negative commands keep pronouns before the verb — no attachment, no new accent: No me lo digas (not No dímelo ).

Base	Attached	Notes
decir	dímelo	affirmative tú command
devolver	devuélvemelo	stem change + accent
explicar	explíqueselo	usted command
preparar	preparándooslo	gerund + os + lo
escribir	escribiéndomela	gerund + me + la
mandar	mándaselo	tú command + se + lo

Dímelo cuando puedas.Tell me (it) when you can.
Devuélvemelo mañana.Give it back to me tomorrow.
Explíqueselo usted, por favor.Explain it to him, please. (formal)
Estoy escribiéndosela.I am writing it (fem.) to you (formal/pl.).
No me lo digas.Don't tell me. (negative — before verb)
¿Puedes prestármelo?Can you lend it to me?

Quick check — 12 questions

Correct order: indirect + direct →

They gave it to me →

I tell it to him (le + lo) →

Will you lend it (fem.) to me? →

I explain it to you all (Spain) →

Don't tell me (it) →

Tell me (it)! (command) →

I am going to send it to them →

RID stands for →

I bought them (masc.) for them →

Return it to me! (devolver) →

We are preparing it for you all →