Double object pronouns occur when both an indirect and a direct object pronoun appear together in a sentence, replacing nouns for brevity and clarity.
Indirect Object Pronouns
Indirect object pronouns tell us to whom or for whom an action is done, and they typically appear as me, te, le, nos, os, and les.
| Spanish Indirect Object Pronoun | English Indirect Object Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| me | to me / for me | |
| te | to you / for you | |
| le | to him/her/you (formal) | |
| nos | to us / for us | |
| os | to you all (Spain) | |
| les | to them / you all |
She gives me a gift. (Colloquial command form)
Direct Object Pronouns
Direct object pronouns receive the action directly and include me, te, lo/la, nos, os, and los/las.
| Spanish Direct Object Pronoun | English Direct Object Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| me | me | |
| te | you | |
| lo | him / it (masculine) | |
| la | her / it (feminine) | |
| nos | us | |
| os | you all (Spain) | |
| los | them (masculine) | |
| las | them (feminine) |
Double Object Pronoun Order
When both pronouns appear, the indirect object pronoun goes first and the direct object pronoun follows; if the indirect pronoun is le/les, it changes to se when paired with lo/la/los/las.
| Indirect Object Pronoun | Spanish Double Object Pronouns (Direct) | |
|---|---|---|
| me | me lo / me la / me los / me las | |
| te | te lo / te la / te los / te las | |
| se (le/les) | se lo / se la / se los / se las | |
| nos | nos lo / nos la / nos los / nos las | |
| os | os lo / os la / os los / os las |
Examples
Placement with Infinitives, Gerunds, and Commands
Double object pronouns can attach to an infinitive, gerund, or affirmative command, or appear before a conjugated verb; they must attach to negative commands and adding them can create an accent for stress.
Summary
Double object pronouns streamline sentences by replacing indirect and direct objects; remember indirect pronouns go first, le/les become se before lo/la/los/las, and pronouns attach or detach according to verb form.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025