lo
Wordform Details
Translation: ithim
Part of Speech: pronoun
Inflection Type:
masculinesingulardirectobjectIs Dictionary Form: Yes
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: it; him; the; that which; what
Part of Speech: pronoun
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'illud' (that, it), the neuter form of 'ille'. While English pronouns evolved from Germanic roots, both Spanish 'lo' and English 'it' serve similar grammatical functions as neutral object pronouns. The Spanish 'lo' has broader usage than English 'it', extending to abstract concepts and functioning as both a definite article with adjectives and as a direct object pronoun.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'lo' as 'low' in English - it's a small, humble word that does a lot of work in the sentence.
- For 'lo + adjective' constructions, imagine putting a spotlight on a quality - 'lo importante' highlights what's important.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
The pronoun 'lo' is extremely versatile in Spanish and is used in many idiomatic expressions. Its usage with adjectives to form abstract nouns (lo importante = the important thing) is a distinctive feature of Spanish that doesn't have a direct equivalent in English grammar.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Lo' is a neuter article or object pronoun, while 'el' is the masculine definite article.
Confused word:
El libro está en la mesa.
The book is on the table.
Notes: 'Lo' can be attached to verbs as a direct object, while 'el' always stands alone as an article.
Mnemonic: 'Lo' abstracts qualities (lo bueno), while 'el' points to specific masculine nouns.
Explanation: 'Lo' is a direct object pronoun (accusative), while 'le' is an indirect object pronoun (dative).
This word:
Lo compré ayer.
I bought it yesterday.
Confused word:
Le di el libro.
I gave him/her the book.
Notes: In some regions of Spain, 'le' is sometimes used instead of 'lo' for masculine direct objects (leísmo).
Mnemonic: Think of 'lo' as pointing directly at the object being acted upon, while 'le' points to who receives the action's benefit.