yo
“yo” means “I” in Spanish (Used to refer to oneself when you are the one doing the action.).
I
📝 In Action
Yo soy de Canadá.
A1I am from Canada.
Yo hablo un poco de español.
A1I speak a little Spanish.
¿Quién quiere pizza? ¡Yo!
A1Who wants pizza? I do!
Yo no sé la respuesta.
A2I don't know the answer.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: yo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'yo' for emphasis to say 'I like coffee'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
It comes directly from the Latin word 'ego', which also meant 'I'. Over the centuries, the 'g' sound softened and eventually disappeared, leaving us with the modern Spanish 'yo'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers drop 'yo' so often?
They drop it because the verb ending already tells you who is doing the action. For example, in 'hablo', the '-o' ending is a clear signal for 'I'. It's like a built-in 'yo'! So, adding 'yo' is often unnecessary unless you want to add emphasis.
Is there a difference between 'yo' and 'mí'?
Yes, they both mean 'I' or 'me', but are used in different situations. Use 'yo' when 'I' am the one doing the verb (e.g., 'Yo corro' - 'I run'). Use 'mí' after small connecting words like 'a', 'para', or 'de' (e.g., 'Este regalo es para mí' - 'This gift is for me').