The two sets of pronouns
Only the third person differs: lo/la for things and people directly affected, le for the person receiving something. To tell them apart, ask: is the person receiving something, or being acted on?
| Person | Direct · what | Indirect · to whom |
|---|---|---|
| yo | me | me |
| tú | te | te |
| él, ella, usted | lo, la | le |
| nosotros | nos | nos |
| vosotros | os | os |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | los, las | les |
Before the verb, or attached to it
Choose a verb form. With an infinitive or gerund, both positions are correct. When a pronoun is attached, a written accent often appears to keep the stress where it was (see stress and accents).
Rule: with an ordinary conjugated verb, the pronoun goes before it.
Two pronouns together
The order is always indirect, then direct: RID (Reflexive, Indirect, Direct) is a common memory aid. Every word has its English meaning underneath.
Le and les become se before lo, la, los, las
When an indirect le or les would come straight before lo, la, los or las, it changes to se. This se is not reflexive: it simply means “to him, to her, to you, to them”. Add a él, a ella, a usted if the context leaves any doubt.
Leísmo and the redundant le
Me gusta, te encanta, le duele
With gustar and similar verbs, the thing liked is the subject and the person is an indirect object (the one something happens to): me gusta el café is literally “coffee pleases me”. The verb agrees with the thing: me gustan los gatos.
A mí me gusta; le di el libro a Ana
Spanish often names the indirect object twice: once as a pronoun and once with a. The a phrase adds emphasis or clarity; the pronoun is still required.