él
“él” means “he” in Spanish (When a male person is the one doing the action.).
he
Also: him
📝 In Action
Él es mi hermano.
A1He is my brother.
¿Hablaste con él?
A1Did you talk with him?
El libro es para él.
A1The book is for him.
A él le gusta el fútbol.
A2He likes soccer.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: él
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'He is tall'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'ille', which meant 'that one over there'. Over time, it shortened and became the go-to word for 'he'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people sometimes drop 'él' from sentences?
In Spanish, the ending of the verb often tells you who is doing the action. For example, in 'come', the '-e' ending signals it's he, she, or you (formal). So, you can say 'Come una manzana' and it's understood you mean 'He eats an apple'. You add 'Él' for clarity or emphasis.
What's the difference between 'él' and 'lo' when they both mean 'him'?
Great question! Use 'él' after small connecting words like 'para' (for), 'con' (with), or 'a' (to). For example, 'Hablo con él' (I talk with him). 'Lo' is used when 'him' is the person directly receiving the action, like 'Lo veo' (I see him). It's a tricky topic you'll master with practice!