él
/el/
📝 In Action
Él es mi hermano.
A1He is my brother.
¿Hablaste con él?
A1Did you talk with him?
El libro es para él.
A1The book is for him.
A él le gusta el fútbol.
A2He likes soccer.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Accent Mark: él vs. el
The little line over the 'e' changes everything! 'Él' with an accent means 'he/him'. 'El' without an accent means 'the' (for masculine things, like 'el libro'). Always look for the accent!
Two Jobs: 'He' and 'Him'
'Él' does the job of both 'he' and 'him'. Use it when he's doing the action ('Él corre' - He runs) and after little connecting words like 'para' (for) or 'con' (with) ('para él' - for him).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "El es doctor."
Correction: Él es doctor. Without the accent, 'el' means 'the', so the first sentence sounds like 'The is a doctor', which doesn't make sense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Optional but Useful
Often, you can leave 'él' out if it's clear who you're talking about. 'Come una manzana' can mean 'He eats an apple'. Use 'Él come una manzana' when you want to be extra clear or emphasize that he is the one eating.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: él
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'He is tall'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people sometimes drop 'él' from sentences?
In Spanish, the ending of the verb often tells you who is doing the action. For example, in 'come', the '-e' ending signals it's he, she, or you (formal). So, you can say 'Come una manzana' and it's understood you mean 'He eats an apple'. You add 'Él' for clarity or emphasis.
What's the difference between 'él' and 'lo' when they both mean 'him'?
Great question! Use 'él' after small connecting words like 'para' (for), 'con' (with), or 'a' (to). For example, 'Hablo con él' (I talk with him). 'Lo' is used when 'him' is the person directly receiving the action, like 'Lo veo' (I see him). It's a tricky topic you'll master with practice!