Spanish Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns
Native speakers almost never repeat a noun that has just been mentioned. They replace it with a short pronoun. That is what these pronouns do, and learning them makes your Spanish sound much more natural. The key is to know which pronoun replaces what: the thing, or the person who gets it.
Quick answer
- Direct object pronouns replace what or who receives the action: lo, la, los, las (him, her, it, them).
- Indirect object pronouns replace to or for whom: le, les (to him, to her, to them).
- Put them before the conjugated verb, or attach them to an infinitive: Lo veo. Quiero verlo.
Direct and indirect objects
The direct object is what or who receives the action of the verb. Ask “what?” or “who?” after the verb. The indirect object is the person who receives or benefits. Ask “to whom?” or “for whom?”
Examples
- Compro el libro.I buy the book.Direct object: el libro.
- Compro un libro para mi mamá.I buy a book for my mom.Direct: un libro. Indirect: mi mamá.
- Le compro un libro a mi mamá.I buy my mom a book.The pronoun le doubles the indirect object.
The pronouns
For me, te, nos, the same word is used for direct and indirect objects. The differences are only in the third person.
| Person | Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|---|
| I | me | me |
| You (informal) | te | te |
| He, she, it, you (formal) | lo, la | le |
| We | nos | nos |
| They, you all | los, las | les |
Direct pronouns match the gender and number of the noun they replace: el libro → lo, la película → la, los boletos → los, las llaves → las. Indirect pronouns do not change for gender.
Replacing a direct object
Examples
- ¿Ves la película? Sí, la veo.Do you see the movie? Yes, I see it.La replaces la película.
- Compramos los boletos. Los compramos hoy.We buy the tickets. We buy them today.Los replaces los boletos.
- Mi hermano me llama todos los días.My brother calls me every day.Me is the direct object.
Replacing an indirect object
Examples
- Le doy el regalo a mi abuela.I give the gift to my grandmother.Le replaces a mi abuela.
- Les escribo a mis primos.I write to my cousins.Les replaces a mis primos.
- ¿Me traes un vaso de agua?Can you bring me a glass of water?Me is the indirect object.
Where the pronoun goes
Put the pronoun before a conjugated verb. With an infinitive or a gerund, you have two choices: put it before the first verb, or attach it to the end of the infinitive or gerund. A written accent often appears to keep the stress in the same place. With a negative command, the pronoun goes before the verb. With an affirmative command, it attaches.
| Verb form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Conjugated verb | La veo. (I see her.) |
| Infinitive | Quiero comprarlo. or Lo quiero comprar. |
| Gerund | Estoy leyéndolo. or Lo estoy leyendo. |
| Affirmative command | Cómpralo. (Buy it.) |
| Negative command | No lo compres. (Do not buy it.) |
Examples
- Quiero verla otra vez.I want to see it again.Attached to the infinitive.
- La quiero ver otra vez.I want to see it again.Before the first verb.
- Ábrela, por favor.Open it, please.Attached to a command, with an accent.
Two pronouns together
When you use both, the indirect pronoun comes first, then the direct: Me lo da. When both pronouns are third person, le and les turn into se before lo, la, los, las. This change avoids the awkward le lo sound.
Examples
- Mi papá me lo da.My dad gives it to me.Indirect, then direct.
- Se lo di ayer.I gave it to him yesterday.Se replaces le before lo.
- Se los explico mañana.I explain them to her tomorrow.Se plus the plural direct pronoun.
Because se can mean to him, to her, to you, or to them, add a él, a ella, a usted or the person’s name when the meaning is not clear: Se lo di a Ana.
A note on lo and le in different regions
In parts of Spain, many speakers use le for a male person as a direct object (Le veo) instead of lo. This is called leísmo. In most of Latin America, speakers use lo for a man as a direct object (Lo veo). This guide follows the Latin American pattern.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Lo doy el libro.
Correct: Le doy el libro.
To give something to a person is an indirect object, so use le.
Incorrect: Le lo di.
Correct: Se lo di.
Le becomes se before lo, la, los, or las.
Incorrect: Quiero lo comprar.
Correct: Quiero comprarlo.
Attach the pronoun to the infinitive, or put it before quiero: lo quiero comprar.
Incorrect: Veo la.
Correct: La veo.
The pronoun goes before a conjugated verb.
A step-by-step method
- Find the object. Is it the thing (direct) or the person who gets it (indirect)?
- Pick the pronoun, matching gender and number for direct objects.
- Place it before the conjugated verb, or attach it to an infinitive, gerund, or affirmative command.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an object is direct or indirect?
Ask “what?” or “who?” after the verb for the direct object. Ask “to whom?” or “for whom?” for the indirect one. If you can add “to” or “for” in English, it is probably indirect.
Why does my pronoun get an accent when I attach it?
Spanish stress rules protect the original stress. When the pronoun is added to the end, the accent keeps the stressed syllable the same: compra becomes cómpralo.
How do these pronouns connect to gustar?
Gustar uses indirect pronouns: Me gusta means “it is pleasing to me.” See me gusta vs. me gustan.
Is ‘se’ the same as the reflexive ‘se’?
They look the same but do different jobs. The one in se lo di replaces le or les. The one in se lava is reflexive. See Spanish reflexive verbs.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Pronouns are easiest to learn with short, real sentences. Try a free practice session and replace the nouns.
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