le
/leh/
The word 'le' often answers the question 'to whom?' or 'for whom?' an action is done, like giving a gift.
le (Pronoun)
📝 In Action
Le di el libro a María.
A1I gave the book to María.
¿Qué le vas a comprar a tu papá?
A2What are you going to buy for your dad?
Le escribo un correo electrónico a usted.
A2I'm writing an email to you (formal).
Le puse más sal a la sopa.
B1I added more salt to the soup.
💡 Grammar Points
Who's Receiving the Action?
le tells you who is receiving the action of the verb. Think of it as answering the question 'To whom?' or 'For whom?'.
It Goes Before the Verb
Unlike in English, le almost always comes right before the main, action verb. For example, Le compro flores means 'I buy flowers for her'.
The Magic 'le' to 'se' Switch
When le is followed by another pronoun like lo or la, it changes to se. You must say Se lo di (I gave it to him), not Le lo di.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'le' When You Clarify
Mistake: "I gave the book to Juan. -> `Di el libro a Juan`."
Correction: Even when you say who you're talking about (like 'a Juan'), you still need to include `le`. The correct way is `Le di el libro a Juan`.
Mixing up 'le' and 'lo'
Mistake: "`Lo di el libro.` (Trying to say 'I gave the book to him')."
Correction: Use `le` when the person is the receiver of something. `Le di el libro` means 'I gave the book *to* him'. `lo` is for the person or thing being directly acted upon, like 'I saw him' (`Lo vi`).
⭐ Usage Tips
Clarifying for Emphasis
Sentences like Le di un regalo can be vague (To whom?). Spanish speakers often add a él, a ella, or a María at the end to make it perfectly clear.
In some parts of Spain, 'le' is used instead of 'lo' when the action is done directly to a man, like 'le vi' (I saw him).
le (Pronoun)
📝 In Action
Le vi en el parque ayer.
B2I saw him in the park yesterday.
A tu hermano no le conozco.
B2I don't know your brother.
💡 Grammar Points
What is 'Leísmo'?
Leísmo is a regional habit of using le where most other Spanish speakers would use lo. This almost only happens when talking about a man who is receiving the action directly.
Is it Correct?
Spain's official language academy accepts using le for a male person (Le vi for 'I saw him'). However, using le for a thing (el coche... le vi) is considered incorrect everywhere.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Leísmo' in Latin America
Mistake: "Using `le vi` to mean 'I saw him' while in Mexico or Colombia."
Correction: This will sound incorrect in Latin America. There, you should stick to `lo` for direct actions on a male person: `Lo vi`.
⭐ Usage Tips
When in Doubt, Use 'lo'
Unless you are in a region of Spain that uses leísmo and you're sure of the rule, it's safer to always use lo when an action is done directly to a male person or thing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: le
Question 1 of 3
Complete the sentence: 'Yo ___ di el regalo a ella.' (I gave the gift to her.)
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see 'Se lo di' instead of 'Le lo di'?
It's a special rule for sound. In Spanish, whenever 'le' or 'les' would come right before 'lo', 'la', 'los', or 'las', the 'le' or 'les' changes to 'se'. It just makes the phrase easier to say.
What's the difference between 'le' and 'lo'?
Think of it this way: `le` is usually for the person *receiving* something (I gave the book **to him** -> `Le di el libro`). `lo` is for the person or thing *being directly acted on* (I saw **him** -> `Lo vi`).
Can 'le' mean 'for you'?
Yes, but only for the formal 'you' (`usted`). For the informal 'you' (`tú`), you use the pronoun `te`. For example: `Te doy un libro` (I give a book to you - informal) vs. `Le doy un libro` (I give a book to you - formal).
What's the plural of 'le'?
The plural is 'les'. You use 'les' when you are talking about 'to/for them' or 'to/for you all' (ustedes). For example, 'Les di los libros a los estudiantes' (I gave the books to the students).