lo
“lo” means “it” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
it, him
📝 In Action
¿Tienes el libro? Sí, lo tengo.
A1Do you have the book? Yes, I have it.
Vi a tu amigo en el parque. Lo saludé.
A2I saw your friend in the park. I said hello to him.
Si quieres el coche, cómpralo.
A2If you want the car, buy it.
the ... thing/part, what
📝 In Action
Lo bueno es que mañana es viernes.
A2The good thing is that tomorrow is Friday.
No entiendo lo que quieres decir.
B1I don't understand what you mean.
Lo de la fiesta fue increíble.
B1The thing about the party was incredible.
how
📝 In Action
No te imaginas lo difícil que es este examen.
B1You can't imagine how difficult this exam is.
Me sorprende lo bien que hablas español.
B1I'm surprised by how well you speak Spanish.
¡Mira lo alto que es ese edificio!
B2Look how tall that building is!
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lo
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly uses 'lo' to say 'The important thing is to listen'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'illum', which was the form of 'ille' (meaning 'that one') used for masculine things that received an action. Over time, it shortened and evolved into the Spanish 'lo'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'lo' and 'le'?
This is a great question that confuses many learners! Use 'lo' when the person or thing is the *direct* receiver of the action (I see *him* -> Lo veo). Use 'le' when the person is the *indirect* receiver, often to or for someone (I give the book *to him* -> Le doy el libro). Some regions in Spain use 'le' for 'him' even directly, but using 'lo' is standard in most of the Spanish-speaking world.
Can 'lo' mean 'what'?
Yes, but almost always as part of the phrase 'lo que'. By itself, 'lo' doesn't mean 'what'. The phrase 'lo que' means 'that which' or 'the thing that', which is how we often translate 'what' in a statement (e.g., 'That's what I said' -> 'Eso es lo que dije'). For questions, you use 'qué'.
Why do I sometimes see 'se lo' together?
When you have two pronouns together and both would start with 'l' (like 'le lo'), Spanish changes the first one to 'se' to make it sound better. For example, instead of 'Le lo di' (I gave it to him), you say 'Se lo di'. The 'se' here just means 'to him/her/them'.