ello
“ello” means “it” in Spanish (referring to a concept or whole situation).
it
Also: that
📝 In Action
Hablamos de su renuncia y todo lo relacionado con ello.
B2We talked about his resignation and everything related to it.
No quiero pensar en ello ahora.
B1I don't want to think about it now.
Para ello, necesitamos más tiempo.
B1For that, we need more time.
El problema es complicado, y por ello requiere nuestra atención.
B2The problem is complicated, and for that reason it requires our attention.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ello
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'ello' correctly?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'illum,' which was the version of 'that one' used for concepts and things without a specific gender. It's the same root that gave us 'él'.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ello' and 'lo'?
It's tricky! 'Ello' is a standalone word, usually used after a preposition (like 'por ello', 'de ello'), to refer to a whole idea. 'Lo' is more versatile; it often attaches to verbs or comes before them and can mean 'it' in a more general sense, like in 'Lo sé' (I know it).
Do I really need to learn 'ello'?
For speaking, not really. You can get by perfectly using 'eso'. However, for reading and understanding more formal or literary Spanish, it's very helpful to recognize 'ello' and understand what it's referring to.