Spanish grammar
Laísmo and loísmo: le dije, le di (to her and to him)
Use le for "to him / to her" and recognise laísmo and loísmo as non-standard.
From the scene La dije que no (I told her no)
In short
With decir, dar or pedir, use le for her or him: le dije, le di. La dije and lo di aren't standard.
Your turn
Which one goes with I gave him a kiss (not "lo di")?
Options: le ha dicho · le di un beso · le dije
Show answer
I gave him a kiss (not "lo di") → le di un beso
How it works
With decir, dar or pedir, the person who receives is an indirect object: le (les for several), for a woman or a man.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Pues ya (blank) he dicho a Montse que mi editora es muy mandona.
Options: la · se · le
Show answer
Pues ya le he dicho a Montse que mi editora es muy mandona.
Well, I've already told Montse that my editor is very bossy.
Good to know
La dije for a woman is laísmo: common in Madrid and central Spain, but not standard. Lo di un beso for a man is loísmo, rarer and also non-standard.
Good to know
Le vi for a man, instead of lo vi, is a different case: that leísmo is accepted.
I told her (not "la dije") le dije
Nuria
En la calle, sí. En un libro: le dije que, le pedí que.
On the street, yes. In a book: I told her that, I asked her to.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
En la calle, sí. En un libro: (blank) que, le pedí que.
Options: le di un beso · le ha dicho · le dije
Show answer
Nuria
En la calle, sí. En un libro: le dije que, le pedí que.
On the street, yes. In a book: I told her that, I asked her to.
I gave him a kiss (not "lo di") le di un beso
Nuria
Le di un beso, en todo caso. ¿Desde cuándo le da usted besos a Ramón?
'Le di un beso', if anything. Since when do you give Ramón kisses?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), en todo caso. ¿Desde cuándo le da usted besos a Ramón?
Options: Le ha dicho · Le di un beso · Le dije
Show answer
Nuria
Le di un beso, en todo caso. ¿Desde cuándo le da usted besos a Ramón?
'Le di un beso', if anything. Since when do you give Ramón kisses?
have you (usted) told her? le ha dicho
Nuria
¿Le ha dicho eso? ¡Pero si Montse es mi jefa!
You told her that? But Montse is my boss!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿(blank) eso? ¡Pero si Montse es mi jefa!
Options: Le di un beso · Le ha dicho · Le dije
Show answer
Nuria
¿Le ha dicho eso? ¡Pero si Montse es mi jefa!
You told her that? But Montse is my boss!
I saw Javi (accepted for a man) a Javi le vi
Your turn
What goes with a Javi le vi?
Options: I gave him a kiss (not "lo di") · I saw Javi (accepted for a man) · I told her (not "la dije")
Show answer
a Javi le vi → I saw Javi (accepted for a man)
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I told her (not "la dije") | le dije |
|---|---|
| I gave him a kiss (not "lo di") | le di un beso |
| have you (usted) told her? | le ha dicho |
| I saw Javi (accepted for a man) | a Javi le vi |
More lines from the story
- ElenaPues ya le he dicho a Montse que mi editora es muy mandona.Well, I've already told Montse that my editor is very bossy.
- Elena¡Pero si en Madrid se ha dicho así toda la vida!But in Madrid people have always said it that way!
- ElenaEs ficción, cariño. Ficción... casi toda.It's fiction, dear. Fiction... most of it.