Using me, te, le, nos, os, les (indirect object pronouns)

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Learn about Spanish indirect object pronouns

Me, te, le, nos, os, les are indirect object pronouns in Spanish. They are used to indicate who benefits from or is affected by the action of the verb in the sentence. The most common translations in English are: (to/for) me, you, him, her, us, them.

As pronouns they replace people, animals or objects.

Have a look at the following examples:

Sergio me compró un reloj muy bonito.Sergio bought me a very pretty watch. (for me)

¿Te dio tu madre el dinero?Did your mum give you the money? (to you)

El hombre le indicó el camino en el mapa.The man showed him/her the way on the map. (to him/her)

Ellos nos regalaron unas camisetas en el evento.They gave us some t-shirts at the event. (to us)

Os puse unas monedas en la mesa para pagar el autobús.I put some coins on the table for you to pay for the bus. [you=vosotros]

Les escribimos una carta muy larga y emotiva.We wrote them a very long and emotional letter.

Claudia siempre le añade mucha sal a la comida.Claudia always adds a lot of salt to food.

Les estaba escribiendo un correo electrónico.I was writing an email to you [ustedes].

Sometimes, when we talk about putting or attaching things on people, animals or things we still use the indirect object pronouns without the preposition. For example:

¡Ven Canela! Te voy a poner la correa.Come Canela! I am going to put the lead (US: leash) on you.

Mi madre me puso el gorro.My mum put my hat on me.

Notice how in all the sentences above the pronouns are placed before the conjugated verb. 

To see how they are placed with other verbal forms see Position of Spanish direct and indirect object pronouns with infinitive/present participle and affirmative commands

Warning: Not all prepositions introduce an indirect object! Indirect objects are specifically the ones that the verb is doing something to or for.

Personal pronoun

Spanish indirect

object pronouns

English
yo me (to/for) me
te (to/for) you
él / ella
usted
le
le
(to/for) him/ her 
you 
nosotros / nosotras nos (to/for) us 

vosotros / vosotras os (to/for) you
ellos / ellas
ustedes
les
les
(to/for) them 
you 

See also Spanish pronouns le / les become se when used with lo, la, los, las (indirect with direct pronouns)

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Examples and resources

Ellos nos regalaron unas camisetas en el evento.They gave us some t-shirts at the event. (to us)
Claudia siempre le añade mucha sal a la comida.Claudia always adds a lot of salt to food.
¡Ven Canela! Te voy a poner la correa.Come Canela! I am going to put the lead (US: leash) on you.
Les escribimos una carta muy larga y emotiva.We wrote them a very long and emotional letter.
Mi madre me puso el gorro.My mum put my hat on me.
El hombre le indicó el camino en el mapa.The man showed him/her the way on the map. (to him/her)
¿Te dio tu madre el dinero?Did your mum give you the money? (to you)
Le das la mano y te coge el brazo.Give him an inch and he'll take a mile. (Lit: You give him your hand and he takes your arm)
Les estaba escribiendo un correo electrónico.I was writing an email to you [ustedes].
Os puse unas monedas en la mesa para pagar el autobús.I put some coins on the table for you to pay for the bus. [you=vosotros]
Sergio me compró un reloj muy bonito.Sergio bought me a very pretty watch. (for me)
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