Lui vs Le vs La
This short guide explains when to use lui, le, and la with clear examples in English. Each section gives quick rules and sample sentences.
Lui
Use lui as an indirect object pronoun to mean "to him" or "to her" when it replaces a person after a preposition or a verb that requires an indirect object. Lui can also emphasize the beneficiary of an action.
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Le
Use le as a direct object pronoun to mean "him" or "it" when it replaces a masculine noun that receives the action directly. Le comes before the verb and does not follow a preposition.
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La
Use la as a direct object pronoun to mean "her" or "it" when it replaces a feminine noun that receives the action directly. Like le, la precedes the verb and replaces the noun without a preposition.
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Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☕ Je le prends, s'il est bon. | I'll take it (m.), if it's good. | Direct object pronoun for masculine noun |
| 🍰 Je la veux, elle a l'air délicieux. | I want it (f.), it looks delicious. | Direct object pronoun for feminine noun |
| 🧑 Je lui parle du gâteau. | I am talking to him/her about the cake. | Indirect object pronoun |
| 🥖 Il le donne au chien. | He gives it (m.) to the dog. | Direct object with giving context |
| 🧃 Elle la partage avec moi. | She is sharing it (f.) with me. | Direct object with sharing context |
| 👩🍳 Je lui demande la recette. | I am asking him/her for the recipe. | Indirect object with request |
| 🍪 Donne-le-moi, s'il te plaît. | Give it to me, please. | Affirmative command with pronouns |
| 🍓 Ne la mange pas encore. | Don't eat it (f.) yet. | Negative command with pronoun |
Summary
Lui = indirect object pronoun for "to him/her"; le = direct object pronoun for masculine nouns; la = direct object pronoun for feminine nouns. Remember whether the verb needs an indirect object and watch for prepositions to choose lui vs le/la.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025