Spanish Direct Object Pronouns: Me, Te, Lo…

Spanish direct object pronouns can be used to refer to people, animals, objects and ideas. First, let’s learn how to use them with people!

For People

When the direct object of a sentence refers to yo, tú, vos, él, ella, usted, nosotros, nosotras, vosotros, vosotras, ellos, ellas, or ustedes, use the following Spanish direct object pronouns:

• me (me)
• te (you)
• lo (him)
• la (her)
• lo / la (you [formal])
• nos (us)
• os (you [plural, Spain])
• los (them)
• las (them)
• los / las (you [plural, LatAm])

Usage

Notice how Spanish direct object pronouns are used to refer to people in the following conversations. 

• ¿Has llamado a tus padres?
• Have you called your parents?

• Sí, los llamé ayer. 
• Yes, I called them yesterday.

• Ellos son mis sobrinos. 
• They are my nephews.

• ¿Los cuidas todas las noches?
• Do you watch after them every night?

• Conocí a Victoria en Argentina.
• I met Victoria in Argentina. 

• La conociste hace muchos años, ¿no?
• You met her many years ago, right?

Notice how in the last conversation the pronoun la replaces Victoria. La, lo, las and los can also be used to refer to objects and animals. Let’s see!

For Objects and Animals

Use la, lo, las, los to refer to objects or animals.

When do you need to use each pronoun? It depends on the gender (feminine or masculine?) and number (singular or plural?) of the object or animal you refer to. Let’s see!

• lo (masculine, singular)
• la (feminine, singular)
• los (masculine, plural)
• las (feminine, plural)

Usage

Notice that the pronouns lo, la, los, las are used to replace objects and animals in the following conversations.

• ¿Recibiste mi carta?
• Did you receive my letter?

• Si, la recibí. 
• Yes, I received it. 

• ¿Dónde están las llaves?
• Where are the keys?

• Las dejé en la mesa.
• I left them on the table.

• ¿Dónde encontraste el zapato?
• Where did you find the shoe?

• Lo encontré debajo de tu cama.
• I found it under your bed.

• ¡Mira a los elefantes!
• Look at the elephants!

• Los están alimentando.
• They are feeding them.

When used to refer to animals or objects, lo and las is translated into English as it. Los and las translates as them.

Neutral Lo

Use the neutral direct object pronoun lo refer to facts, situations, or things that you say, think, feel, etc.

• No entiendo por qué duermes tanto. 
• I don’t understand why you sleep so much. 

• No lo entiendo. 
• I don’t understand it. 

• Quiero que sepas que te amo.
• I want you to know that I love you.

• Quiero que lo sepas.
• I want you to know it. 

• No sé qué pasó.
• I don’t know what happened. 

• No lo sé. 
• I don’t know it. 

Position

Spanish direct object pronouns are always placed before conjugated verbs.

• Te amo.
• I love you.

• No me llames.
• Don’t call me.

Direct object pronouns are attached to the end of the verb in imperative, positive statements. This rule does not apply to negative, imperative sentences. See the examples below. 

• ¡Ayúdame!
• Help me!

• ¡No me ayudes!
• Don’t help me!

Attach direct object pronouns to the end of infinitive verbs and gerunds. 

• Dejarla fue un error.
• To leave her was a mistake. 

• Pensándolo bien, me quedaré en casa.
• Thinking about it, I’ll stay at home.

When you have two verbs in a sentence, you can either place the direct object pronouns before the conjugated verb, or you can attach it to the end of the second verb. 

• Te quiero ver.
• I want to see you. 

• Quiero verte.
• I want to see you.

Got questions or doubt about these pronouns? Drop me a line, and I’ll be happy to clarify any doubts.