los
“los” means “the” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
the
📝 In Action
Los niños juegan en el parque.
A1The children are playing in the park.
¿Dónde están los libros?
A1Where are the books?
Me gustan los perros grandes.
A1I like big dogs.
them
Also: you
📝 In Action
¿Ves los coches? Sí, los veo.
A2Do you see the cars? Yes, I see them.
Tengo dos boletos. ¿Los quieres?
A2I have two tickets. Do you want them?
A mis amigos, los llamo cada semana.
B1My friends, I call them every week.
Buenos días, señores. ¿Puedo ayudarlos?
B1Good morning, gentlemen. Can I help you (all)?
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: los
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'los' to mean 'them'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Los' comes from the Latin word 'illōs', which was the plural form of 'ille', meaning 'that' or 'that one over there'. Over time, it shortened and became the standard word for 'the' (plural) and 'them' in Spanish.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'los' and 'les'?
It's a common point of confusion! Use 'los' when it means 'them' and it's the thing directly receiving the action (e.g., 'I see them' -> 'Los veo'). Use 'les' when it means 'to them' or 'for them' (e.g., 'I give the book to them' -> 'Les doy el libro').
How do I know whether to use 'los' or 'las'?
'Los' is for groups of masculine things (los libros) or mixed groups of people (los amigos - male and female friends). 'Las' is only for groups of feminine things (las mesas) or groups of all-female people (las amigas).
Can 'los' mean 'you'?
Yes! When speaking to a group of people formally (or just normally in Latin America), 'los' can mean 'you all'. For example, a hotel receptionist might ask a group of men, '¿Puedo ayudarlos?' meaning 'Can I help you?'.