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.

usarlo

oo-SAHR-lo

Verb (Infinitive Phrase)A1regular ar

to use it?referring to a masculine object or a neuter concept,to use him?referring to a person, though less common

Also:to employ it?more formal usage

Quick Reference

infinitiveusar

gerundusando

past Participleusado

📝 In Action

Necesitas leer el manual antes de usarlo.

You need to read the manual before using it.

No sé cómo usarlo, ¿puedes ayudarme?

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

Es la mejor herramienta. Debemos usarlo siempre.

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 usarlo – to learn how to use it
dejar de usarlo – to stop using it

💡 Grammar Points

Pronouns Stick to the End

In Spanish, when the verb is in its basic form (the infinitive, like 'usar'), you often attach the small words that receive the action (like 'lo', 'la', 'me', 'te') directly to the end, forming a single word.

The 'Lo' Means 'It'

The 'lo' attached here is the direct object pronoun, which usually means 'it' (if referring to a masculine noun or a general concept) or sometimes 'him' or 'formal you'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Misplacing the 'Lo'

Mistake: "Yo necesito lo usar."

Correction: Yo necesito usarlo. (Or: Yo lo necesito usar.) The pronoun either goes before the conjugated verb OR attached to the infinitive, but never awkwardly between two verbs like that.

⭐ Usage Tips

Stress Shift

When you attach 'lo' to the infinitive 'usar', the original stress on the last syllable of 'usar' stays put. You don't need to add an accent mark because the stress naturally falls on the second-to-last syllable of 'usarlo', following normal Spanish rules.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: usarlo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'usarlo'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

usar(to use) - verb

uso(use, usage) - noun

usuario(user) - noun

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').