How do I know whether to use él, lo, or le?

Use él after prepositions (para él, con él). Use lo when him is the direct object of a verb (lo llamé = I called him). Use le when him is the indirect object, meaning he receives something or benefits from the action (le escribí = I wrote to him).

What is leísmo and how does it affect saying him?

Leísmo is the practice, common in central Spain, of using le instead of lo for masculine direct objects referring to people. So le vi (I saw him) is accepted in Spain but considered non-standard in Latin America, where lo vi is preferred.

How do I say with him in Spanish?

The phrase with him translates to con él. However, when combined with the reflexive meaning with himself, it becomes the special form consigo. For example, Él llevó el libro consigo means He took the book with him.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

HIM in Spanish: ÉL

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

Él · pronoun · EHL

Translating him into Spanish requires choosing between three different pronouns depending on grammatical function: él after prepositions, lo as a direct object, and le as an indirect object. This three-way distinction is one of the trickiest aspects of Spanish pronouns for English speakers, since English uses him for all three roles.

EHL

Este regalo es para él.

This gift is for him.

him in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for him, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
él	him	EHL	Default, widely understood
lo	him		direct object pronoun
le	him		indirect object pronoun

How Native Speakers Use Él

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

After Preposition

Voy a salir con él esta noche.

I'm going to go out with him tonight.

After prepositions like con, para, sin, the prepositional pronoun él is used.

Direct Object

Lo vi en el supermercado ayer.

I saw him at the supermarket yesterday.

Lo replaces the masculine direct object (the person seen).

Indirect Object

Le envié un mensaje esta mañana.

I sent him a message this morning.

Le indicates the recipient of an action.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Él

Using Él as Direct Object

Incorrect: Yo vi él en la tienda.

Correct: Yo lo vi en la tienda.

Él cannot function as a direct object. Spanish requires the clitic pronoun lo before the conjugated verb.

Confusing Lo and Le

Incorrect: Lo di el libro.

Correct: Le di el libro.

When him means to him or for him (indirect object), use le. Lo is only for direct objects where him receives the action directly.

Lock in him Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Él used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using él in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Este regalo es para él. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

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Common Questions About him in Spanish

How do I know whether to use él, lo, or le?: Use él after prepositions (para él, con él). Use lo when him is the direct object of a verb (lo llamé = I called him). Use le when him is the indirect object, meaning he receives something or benefits from the action (le escribí = I wrote to him).
What is leísmo and how does it affect saying him?: Leísmo is the practice, common in central Spain, of using le instead of lo for masculine direct objects referring to people. So le vi (I saw him) is accepted in Spain but considered non-standard in Latin America, where lo vi is preferred.
How do I say with him in Spanish?: The phrase with him translates to con él. However, when combined with the reflexive meaning with himself, it becomes the special form consigo. For example, Él llevó el libro consigo means He took the book with him.