Double object pronouns: se lo, se la
A2Grammar path · Lesson 31 of 86 · Stage A2 · Object pronouns
You need this whenever you say someone gives, sends or tells something to someone without repeating both nouns, as in 'I gave it to her'. The indirect pronoun comes first, the direct pronoun second, then the verb: me lo, te la. But Spanish never says le lo or les la: le/les turns into se, giving se lo, se la, se los, se las. With an infinitive or an affirmative command, the pair attaches to the end of the verb: dárselo, dígaselo. Do not confuse this se with reflexive se: here it simply means 'to him, to her, to them, to you'.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
se + lo/la/los/las + verbo conjugadono + se + lo/la/los/las + verbo conjugado¿se + lo/la/los/las + verbo conjugado?infinitivo/imperativo + se + lo/la/los/lasWhen to use it
Avoiding repetition when giving, sending or lending
When both the thing and the receiver are already clear, replace both with se + lo/la/los/las. The direct pronoun must match the thing in gender and number.
Attached to an infinitive or a command
After an infinitive or in an affirmative command, se lo is written onto the end of the verb and usually needs an accent mark.
Polite speech with usted, ustedes and clarifying the receiver
Se can also mean usted or ustedes, so it is very common in restaurants and shops. Add a él, a ella, a usted to make clear who se is.
Two pronouns together: indirect first, le / les → se
Don't confuse it with
Lo, la, los, las stay the same inside se lo; you only add se when there is also a receiver. If the sentence has only the thing and no receiver, use lo/la alone: Lo compré, not Se lo compré.
Indirect object pronouns: le, lesLe and les are only used on their own. As soon as lo, la, los or las follows, they must change to se: Le di el libro but Se lo di.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you say se lo and not le lo?
Spanish does not allow le or les right before lo, la, los, las. So le/les always change to se in this case.
Which pronoun comes first in se lo?
The indirect pronoun (the receiver) always comes first and the direct pronoun (the thing) second: se lo, me la, te los.
When do you write dárselo as one word?
With an infinitive, a gerund or an affirmative command, the pronoun pair attaches to the end of the verb and usually takes an accent: dárselo, dígaselo. With a conjugated verb it goes before: se lo doy.
How do I know if se means him, her or you?
Use the context, or add a clarifying phrase like a él, a ella, a usted: Se lo di a ella.
If the receiver is plural, do you say se los?
Not necessarily: se never changes for the number of receivers. Lo/los agree only with the thing, so giving them one book is still se lo di.