Indirect object pronouns
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Mis padres regalos a los niños.
My parents bought the children presents.
The rule
In English, this role uses "to" or "for" (I gave the book to her). Spanish uses these pronouns far more often than English does, and understanding them is essential for reading everyday sentences.
The pattern
Indirect object pronouns go before the conjugated verb.
| Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|
| me | to/for me |
| te | to/for you |
| le | to/for him, her, you (formal), or it |
| nos | to/for us |
| les | to/for them or you all |
Le and les can be ambiguous because they cover multiple people. Add a + person to clarify: Le hablo a ella.
Spanish uses the pronoun even when the person is named: Le di el libro a María. This feels redundant from English, but it is standard.
When le or les comes before lo, la, los, or las, it changes to se. Le + lo becomes se lo. Les + las becomes se las. You never say le lo or les las.
Examples
- Le di el libro.I gave the book to him/her.
- Les escribo una carta.I write them a letter.
- Me dijo la verdad.He told me the truth.
- Te preparo café.I am making coffee for you.
- Nos manda un mensaje.She sends us a message.
- Le dije a mi madre que venía.I told my mother I was coming.
- Se lo di.I gave it to him/her.
- Se las envié a mis amigas.I sent them to my friends.
Watch out
- Di el libro a ella. Le di el libro a ella.Spanish uses the indirect object pronoun even when the person is named separately.
- Le lo di. Se lo di.Le changes to se before lo, la, los, or las.
- Les las mandé. Se las mandé.Les also changes to se before a direct object pronoun.
- Dije a María. Le dije a María.The pronoun le is required even though a María already names the person.