Inklingo

usarlo

oo-SAHR-louˈsaɾlo

usarlo means to use it in Spanish (referring to a masculine object or a neuter concept).

to use it, to use him

Also: to employ it
A1regular ar
A young child is focused on painting, actively holding and pressing a blue paintbrush onto a small white canvas, demonstrating the action of using an object.
infinitiveusar
gerundusando
past Participleusado

📝 In Action

Necesitas leer el manual antes de usarlo.

A1

You need to read the manual before using it.

No sé cómo usarlo, ¿puedes ayudarme?

A1

I don't know how to use it, can you help me?

Es la mejor herramienta. Debemos usarlo siempre.

A2

It's the best tool. We should always use it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • emplearlo (to employ it)
  • utilizarlo (to utilize it)

Common Collocations

  • aprender a usarloto learn how to use it
  • dejar de usarloto stop using it

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedusa
youso
usas
ellos/ellas/ustedesusan
nosotrosusamos
vosotrosusáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedusaba
yousaba
usabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesusaban
nosotrosusábamos
vosotrosusabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedusó
yousé
usaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesusaron
nosotrosusamos
vosotrosusasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/usteduse
youse
uses
ellos/ellas/ustedesusen
nosotrosusemos
vosotrosuséis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedusara/usase
yousara/usase
usaras/usases
ellos/ellas/ustedesusaran/usasen
nosotrosusáramos/usásemos
vosotrosusarais/usaseis

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: usarlo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'usarlo'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
comprarlomirarlo
📚 Etymology

The root verb 'usar' comes from the Latin verb *ūtī*, meaning 'to use' or 'to employ'. It has been a standard word in Spanish since the earliest recorded texts.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (likely 10th-12th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: usarFrench: user

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Frequently Asked Questions

If 'usar' means 'to use,' why does 'usarlo' have 'lo' attached?

The 'lo' is a pronoun meaning 'it' (or 'him'). When a Spanish verb is in its basic, unconjugated form (the infinitive), the small words that receive the action are often attached right to the end. So, 'usar' (to use) + 'lo' (it) = 'usarlo' (to use it).

When do I use 'usarlo' versus 'usarla'?

You use 'usarlo' when the thing you are using is a masculine noun (like 'el teléfono' or 'el coche'). You use 'usarla' when the thing you are using is a feminine noun (like 'la computadora' or 'la llave').