How do you say it in Spanish?

Spanish has no single equivalent of it—as a subject it is typically omitted, and as a direct object it becomes lo for masculine or la for feminine nouns.

When do you use ello in Spanish?

Ello is a neuter pronoun used to refer to abstract ideas or entire situations, not specific nouns—it appears mostly in formal or written Spanish.

Why does Spanish drop the subject it?

Spanish verb conjugations already indicate the subject, making a separate pronoun redundant for impersonal expressions like llueve (it rains) or es importante (it's important).

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say It in Spanish: Lo, La & Ello

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

Lo/La/Ello · pronoun · loh / lah / EH-yoh

Spanish doesn't have a single word for it—as a subject it's usually omitted, and as an object it becomes lo (masculine) or la (feminine).

Lo is loh, la is lah, and ello is EH-yoh.

Lo compré ayer en el mercado.

I bought it yesterday at the market.

It in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
lo/la/ello	it	loh / lah / EH-yoh	Default, widely understood
(omitted)	it		subject it is usually dropped in Spanish

How Native Speakers Use Lo/La/Ello

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

Direct object (masculine)

El libro es interesante. Lo leí en un día.

The book is interesting. I read it in one day.

Lo replaces a masculine noun.

Direct object (feminine)

¿La carta? La envié esta mañana.

The letter? I sent it this morning.

La replaces a feminine noun.

Subject omission

Está lloviendo. (It is raining.)

It is raining.

No pronoun needed for impersonal subjects.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Lo/La/Ello

Adding a subject pronoun for weather

Incorrect: Ello está lloviendo.

Correct: Está lloviendo.

Spanish omits the subject for impersonal verbs like weather expressions.

Using lo for feminine nouns

Incorrect: La mesa es nueva. Lo compré ayer.

Correct: La mesa es nueva. La compré ayer.

The pronoun must match the gender of the noun it replaces: la for mesa.

Lock in It 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 Lo/La/Ello used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using lo/la/ello in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Lo compré ayer en el mercado. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About It in Spanish

How do you say it in Spanish?: Spanish has no single equivalent of it—as a subject it is typically omitted, and as a direct object it becomes lo for masculine or la for feminine nouns.
When do you use ello in Spanish?: Ello is a neuter pronoun used to refer to abstract ideas or entire situations, not specific nouns—it appears mostly in formal or written Spanish.
Why does Spanish drop the subject it?: Spanish verb conjugations already indicate the subject, making a separate pronoun redundant for impersonal expressions like llueve (it rains) or es importante (it's important).