Spanish object pronouns are essential for anyone learning the language: both the direct and the indirect forms turn up constantly in everyday conversation, and even in songs. They let you refer to a person or thing already mentioned, so your sentences stay short and natural rather than repeating the same noun. This guide explains the full set, where they sit in a sentence, the special forms with con, how two pronouns combine, and gives clear examples of each.
Spanish Object Pronouns Explained
The full set of object pronouns
Object pronouns correspond to the personal (subject) pronouns you already know from conjugating verbs. This overview lists them all.
| Subject pronoun | Direct object | Indirect object |
| yo | me | me |
| tú | te | te |
| él / ella / usted | lo / la | le |
| nosotros / nosotras | nos | nos |
| vosotros / vosotras | os | os |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | los / las | les |
Where object pronouns go
As a rule, the object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb. Compare a sentence with a full object and the same sentence with a pronoun:
"Miguel come un bocadillo" (Miguel eats a sandwich) becomes "Miguel lo come" (Miguel eats it), where lo replaces un bocadillo and sits in front of the verb come.
With an infinitive or a gerund the pronoun may instead attach to the end (comerlo, comiéndolo), and with affirmative commands it always attaches (cómelo).
Direct object pronouns (objeto directo)
Direct object pronouns replace the direct object, the person or thing that receives the action. To test for a direct object, ask "who?" or "what?" after the verb.
| Person | Direct object pronoun |
| me | me |
| you (informal) | te |
| him, it (masc.) | lo |
| her, it (fem.) | la |
| us | nos |
| you all (informal) | os |
| them (masc.) | los |
| them (fem.) | las |
Examples:
"Busco un cuchillo. Lo busco." (I am looking for a knife. I am looking for it.)
"Pago las bebidas en efectivo. Las pago en efectivo." (I pay for the drinks in cash. I pay for them in cash.)
"¿Has traído los ordenadores? ¿Los has traído?" (Have you brought the computers? Have you brought them?)
"Me gustan los patacones. Los quiero comer todos los días." (I love patacones. I want to eat them every day.)
Indirect object pronouns (objeto indirecto)
Indirect object pronouns replace the indirect object, usually the person to whom or for whom something is done. To test for an indirect object, ask "to whom?" or "for whom?" (¿a quién?).
| Person | Indirect object pronoun |
|---|---|
| to/for me | me |
| to/for you (informal) | te |
| to/for him, her, it, you (formal) | le |
| to/for us | nos |
| to/for you all (informal) | os |
| to/for them, you (formal pl.) | les |
Examples:
"Mi hermano me hace un regalo." (My brother gives me a present.)
"Ella le canta una canción." (She sings him a song.)
"Mis padres me compran un coche." (My parents buy me a car.)
"Yo os he invitado a la fiesta." (I have invited you all to the party.)
The special forms with con
When an object pronoun follows the very common preposition con, the first- and second-person singular forms merge into a single word, and the reflexive third person does too.
| Combination | Becomes | Example |
| con + mí | conmigo | ¿Quieres ir a la playa conmigo? |
| con + ti | contigo | Me gusta pasar tiempo contigo. |
| con + sí | consigo | Siempre habla consigo mismo. |
Using two pronouns together
Spanish often marks the object twice, once as a pronoun and once as the full noun, especially with the indirect object.
When an indirect and a direct pronoun appear together, the indirect comes first, and le or les changes to se before lo, la, los or las.
For example, "Yo le regalé un viaje a mis padres" (I gave my parents a trip) becomes "Se lo regalé" (I gave it to them): the trip is singular, so the direct pronoun is lo, and le becomes se before it.
Likewise "Le compro un regalo a mi mamá" (I buy my mum a present) and "Les han llevado los ordenadores" (they have brought them the computers).
Summary
Spanish object pronouns replace a person or thing already mentioned so you avoid repetition.
Direct object pronouns (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las) answer "who/what?"; indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) answer "to/for whom?".
They normally sit before the conjugated verb, con produces conmigo, contigo and consigo, and when two pronouns meet, the indirect one leads and le/les becomes se before lo/la/los/las.
Learn the tables, then build your own sentences, and the pattern soon feels automatic.
A Spanish course in Spain with SPRACHCAFFE, in Malaga or Barcelona, is the fastest way to make it stick.
FAQ
Direct object pronouns (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las) receive the action directly, while indirect ones (me, te, le, nos, os, les) show to or for whom it is done.
Usually immediately before the conjugated verb, as in "lo veo". With infinitives, gerunds and positive commands they attach to the end, as in "verlo" or "dímelo".
The indirect pronoun comes before the direct one. When both are third person, the indirect "le" or "les" changes to "se", so "le lo" becomes "se lo".
With the preposition con, the special forms conmigo (with me) and contigo (with you) are used instead of con mí or con ti.
Pronouns click fastest when you speak, which a Spanish course abroad makes constant.
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