What are Spanish direct object pronouns?

Pronouns that replace the direct object: me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las. Lo veo = I see him / it. They agree in gender + number with the replaced noun and go BEFORE conjugated verbs.

Where do I put direct object pronouns?

Before conjugated verbs (lo veo). Attached to end of infinitives (verlo), gerunds (viéndolo), and affirmative commands (¡míralo!). Before negative commands (¡no lo mires!). Movable with verb + infinitive / gerund constructions (lo voy a ver = voy a verlo).

What's the difference between lo and le?

Lo = direct object pronoun masc. (I see him = lo veo). Le = indirect object pronoun (I give him = le doy). In Spain, leísmo allows le for masculine human direct objects, but standard is lo for direct, le for indirect.

What happens when I have two object pronouns?

Indirect (me, te, le, nos, os, les) goes BEFORE direct (lo, la, los, las). Me lo da, te la mandé, nos los explicó. Special rule: le / les + lo / la / los / las → se + lo / la / los / las (Se lo doy, NOT *le lo doy).

How can I master direct object pronouns?

Drill placement (before conjugated, attached to inf. / ger. / aff. cmd.). Practice agreement (lo for masc. sing., la for fem. sing., los / las for plural). Read Spanish dialogue to see natural usage. Parrot's videos show real conversations with object pronouns in context.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Spanish Direct Object Pronouns: 40+ Examples

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Spanish direct object pronouns (me, te, lo / la, nos, os, los / las) replace direct objects. Place before conjugated verbs (lo veo) or attached to infinitives, gerunds, and affirmative commands (verlo, viéndolo, ¡míralo!). 40+ examples by use.

Lo veo. La compré. Los conozco.

I see him / it. I bought it. I know them.

What it is

Direct object pronouns (me, te, lo / la, nos, os, los / las) replace the direct object of a verb to avoid repetition. They're placed BEFORE conjugated verbs (lo veo = I see it / him) or attached to infinitives, gerunds, and affirmative commands (verlo, viéndolo, ¡míralo!).

Without pronoun: Compré el libro (I bought the book). With pronoun: Lo compré (I bought it). Lo replaces el libro.

How to spot it

Direct object pronouns answer who? or what? after the verb. Me (me), te (you), lo (him / it masc.), la (her / it fem.), nos (us), os (you all, Spain), los (them masc.), las (them fem.). Agree in number AND gender with what they replace.

Lo veo. (it / him) — I see it / him.
La conozco. (her / it fem.) — I know her / it.
Las compré. (them fem.) — I bought them.

Spanish requires gender + number agreement: the book = el libro = lo; the books = los libros = los; the house = la casa = la; the houses = las casas = las.

Spanish Direct Object Pronoun Examples Quick Reference

Direct object pronouns

Pronoun	Replaces	Example
me	me	Me ves (You see me)
te	you (informal)	Te llamo (I call you)
lo	him / it (masc.)	Lo veo (I see him / it)
la	her / it (fem.)	La conozco (I know her / it)
nos	us	Nos invitan (They invite us)
os	you all (Spain informal)	Os veo (I see you all)
los	them (masc. / mixed)	Los compro (I buy them)
las	them (fem.)	Las leo (I read them)

Common Spanish Direct Object Pronoun Examples Examples in Spanish

Direct object pronouns in real contexts:

Replacing a Direct Object Noun

Compré el libro. > Lo compré.: I bought the book. > I bought it.
Veo a María. > La veo.: I see María. > I see her.
Leemos los periódicos. > Los leemos.: We read the newspapers. > We read them.
Conozco a tus padres. > Los conozco.: I know your parents. > I know them.
Comió las manzanas. > Las comió.: She ate the apples. > She ate them.
Llamé a mi madre. > La llamé.: I called my mom. > I called her.
Bebió el café. > Lo bebió.: He drank the coffee. > He drank it.

The pronoun replaces the noun and goes BEFORE the conjugated verb. Lo / la / los / las agree with the gender + number of the replaced noun.

With Conjugated Verbs (Before)

Me ves.: You see me.
Te llamo mañana.: I'll call you tomorrow.
Lo conozco bien.: I know him well.
La estudio cada día.: I study it every day.
Nos invitan a la fiesta.: They invite us to the party.
Los vimos en el parque.: We saw them in the park.
Las compré ayer.: I bought them yesterday.

Before conjugated verbs (simple tenses, present perfect, etc.), the pronoun comes immediately before the verb.

With Infinitives (Attached or Before)

Quiero verlo / Lo quiero ver.: I want to see him / it.
Voy a leerlo / Lo voy a leer.: I'm going to read it.
Tengo que llamarla / La tengo que llamar.: I have to call her.
Necesito comprarlos / Los necesito comprar.: I need to buy them.
Vamos a invitarlas.: We're going to invite them.
Espero conocerlo pronto.: I hope to meet him soon.
Acaba de verme.: He just saw me.

With infinitives (after another conjugated verb), pronoun can attach to the infinitive (verlo) OR move before the conjugated verb (lo quiero ver). Both are equally correct.

With Gerunds (Attached or Before)

Estoy mirándolo / Lo estoy mirando.: I'm watching it.
Estamos comprándolas / Las estamos comprando.: We're buying them.
Sigo estudiándola / La sigo estudiando.: I keep studying it.
Continúa leyéndolo / Lo continúa leyendo.: He continues reading it.
Está escuchándome / Me está escuchando.: He's listening to me.
Sigo amándote.: I keep loving you.
Está esperándonos.: She's waiting for us.

With gerunds (after estar or another verb), pronoun attaches (mirándolo) or moves before (lo estoy mirando). Attaching the pronoun requires adding an accent mark to keep the original stress.

With Commands (Attached for Affirmative, Before for Negative)

¡Cómpralo!: Buy it!
¡No lo compres!: Don't buy it!
¡Llámame!: Call me!
¡No me llames!: Don't call me!
¡Háganlo!: Do it! (formal plural)
¡No lo hagan!: Don't do it!
¡Mírala bien!: Look at her closely!

Affirmative commands: pronoun ATTACHED to end (cómpralo, llámame). Add accent to preserve stress. Negative commands: pronoun BEFORE verb (no lo compres, no me llames).

Common Verb + Pronoun Combos

Lo sé.: I know it.
No lo creo.: I don't believe it.
Lo entiendo.: I understand it.
Me gusta. (lit. it pleases me, different structure): I like it.
Te amo.: I love you.
Lo siento.: I'm sorry. (lit. I feel it)
Lo haré.: I'll do it.

Some pronoun + verb combos are essential everyday Spanish: lo sé, no lo creo, lo entiendo, te amo, lo siento, lo haré. Memorize as fixed expressions.

How to Use Direct Object Pronouns

Agree in Gender and Number

Lo (masc. sing.) / la (fem. sing.) / los (masc. or mixed plural) / las (fem. plural). Match the noun you're replacing: el libro > lo; la casa > la; los libros > los; las casas > las.

el libro > lo. la casa > la.

Agreement is required.

Match gender + number.

Place Before Conjugated Verb

In simple sentences, place the pronoun BEFORE the conjugated verb: Lo veo. La compré. Los conocí. Never *Veo lo or *Compré la.

Lo veo. La compré.

Before conjugated verb.

Pronoun first.

Attach to Infinitives, Gerunds, Affirmative Commands

With infinitive (verlo), gerund (viéndolo), or affirmative command (¡míralo!), the pronoun attaches to the end. With negative commands, pronoun goes BEFORE (¡no lo mires!).

verlo / viéndolo / ¡míralo! / no lo mires.

Attach for inf./ger./aff. cmd.

Attach to end (except neg. cmd).

Movable with Verb + Infinitive / Gerund

When you have a conjugated verb + infinitive (voy a comprarlo) or + gerund (estoy mirándolo), the pronoun can either attach to the infinitive / gerund OR move before the conjugated verb: voy a comprarlo = lo voy a comprar.

Voy a comprarlo = lo voy a comprar.

Movable position.

Two placements OK.

Common Mistakes with Spanish Direct Object Pronoun Examples

Incorrect: Veo lo. — I see it.

Correct: Lo veo. — I see it.

Direct object pronouns go BEFORE conjugated verbs, not after. *Veo lo is ungrammatical. Correct: lo veo.

Incorrect: Compré ellos. — I bought them.

Correct: Los compré. — I bought them.

Ellos / ellas are subject pronouns, not object pronouns. Direct object pronoun for 'them (masc.)' is los: los compré.

Incorrect: ¡No cómpralo! — Don't buy it!

Correct: ¡No lo compres! — Don't buy it!

Negative commands take pronoun BEFORE the verb, not attached. ¡No lo compres! Also, negative command form uses subjunctive (no compres), not infinitive.

Combining with Indirect Object Pronouns

Two Pronouns: IO + DO

When both indirect and direct object pronouns appear, indirect (IO) comes BEFORE direct (DO). Me lo da (he gives it to me). Te la mandé (I sent it to you). With third person, le / les + lo / la / los / las becomes se + lo / la: Se lo doy (NOT *le lo doy).

Me lo da.: He gives it to me.
Te la mandé.: I sent it to you.
Nos los explicó.: He explained them to us.
Se lo dije a Juan. (se = le + lo): I told him.
Se las regalé a mis tíos.: I gave them to my uncles.
¿Me lo prestas?: Will you lend it to me?

The rule 'le / les becomes se before lo / la / los / las' avoids the awkward *le lo. The se is sometimes ambiguous (Se lo doy could mean to him / her / them / you formal), so often Spanish adds 'a + person' for clarity: Se lo doy a Juan.

Spanish Direct Object Pronoun Examples FAQs

What are Spanish direct object pronouns?: Pronouns that replace the direct object: me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las. Lo veo = I see him / it. They agree in gender + number with the replaced noun and go BEFORE conjugated verbs.
Where do I put direct object pronouns?: Before conjugated verbs (lo veo). Attached to end of infinitives (verlo), gerunds (viéndolo), and affirmative commands (¡míralo!). Before negative commands (¡no lo mires!). Movable with verb + infinitive / gerund constructions (lo voy a ver = voy a verlo).
What's the difference between lo and le?: Lo = direct object pronoun masc. (I see him = lo veo). Le = indirect object pronoun (I give him = le doy). In Spain, leísmo allows le for masculine human direct objects, but standard is lo for direct, le for indirect.
What happens when I have two object pronouns?: Indirect (me, te, le, nos, os, les) goes BEFORE direct (lo, la, los, las). Me lo da, te la mandé, nos los explicó. Special rule: le / les + lo / la / los / las → se + lo / la / los / las (Se lo doy, NOT *le lo doy).
How can I master direct object pronouns?: Drill placement (before conjugated, attached to inf. / ger. / aff. cmd.). Practice agreement (lo for masc. sing., la for fem. sing., los / las for plural). Read Spanish dialogue to see natural usage. Parrot's videos show real conversations with object pronouns in context.