Direct Object Pronouns
The short answer
Spanish direct object pronouns replace the noun that directly receives the verb's action. The full set is: me (me), te (you, informal), lo/la (him/her/it/you formal singular), nos (us), os (you all, Spain), and los/las (them/you formal plural). These pronouns go immediately before a conjugated verb — "La veo" (I see her) — or attach to an infinitive or gerund: "Voy a verla" (I'm going to see her) or "Estoy haciéndolo" (I'm doing it).
Direct object pronouns are essential for natural, fluent Spanish — they eliminate repetition and make sentences flow. The key is knowing which pronoun matches the noun you are replacing and where to place it in the sentence.
What you'll cover
3 lessons · CEFR A2 · Elementary
- 1
Using third-person singular direct object pronouns lo and la to replace masculine and feminine nouns.
- 2
Using plural direct object pronouns los and las and practising replacement of noun phrases in sentences.
- 3
Pronoun placement rules: before conjugated verbs, attached to infinitives and gerunds, and double-verb constructions.
Examples
La veo todos los días.
I see her every day.
la replaces a feminine noun
Lo compré ayer.
I bought it yesterday.
lo replaces a masculine noun
¿Las has visto?
Have you seen them (feminine)?
las placed before the auxiliary
Voy a hacerlo ahora.
I'm going to do it now.
lo attached to the infinitive
¡Cómelo!
Eat it!
Affirmative command — pronoun attached to the verb
Common questions
What is a direct object pronoun in Spanish?
A direct object pronoun replaces the noun that directly receives the verb's action without a preposition. Instead of "Veo a María" (I see María), say "La veo" (I see her). The pronoun must agree in gender and number with the noun it replaces.
What is the full set of Spanish direct object pronouns?
The direct object pronouns are: me (me), te (you, informal singular), lo (him/it masculine/you formal masc.), la (her/it feminine/you formal fem.), nos (us), os (you all, informal Spain), los (them masc./you formal plural masc.), las (them fem./you formal plural fem.).
When do I use lo versus le for "him"?
Strictly, lo is the correct direct object pronoun for "him" in standard Spanish: "Lo veo" (I see him). In Spain, le is frequently used instead for male people — a phenomenon called leísmo. Both are accepted in Spain, but lo is standard in Latin America and formally correct everywhere.
Can I place the direct object pronoun after the verb?
Pronouns must come before a conjugated verb: "La veo", never "Veo la." They attach to the end of infinitives: "Voy a verla". They attach to affirmative commands: "Cómelo" (Eat it). In negative commands, they return before the verb: "No lo comas" (Don't eat it).
What happens when a sentence has both a direct and indirect object pronoun?
Both pronouns appear before the conjugated verb, with the indirect object pronoun first: "Te lo doy" (I give it to you). When the indirect object pronoun is le or les and the direct object begins with l (lo, la, los, las), le/les change to se: "Se lo doy" (I give it to him/her/them).
Related grammar topics
Practise this grammar in context
Ready to practise Direct Object Pronouns?
Find your level first — the 2-minute test places you precisely on the CEFR scale so your first lesson starts exactly where you need it.