Spanish grammar
Leísmo: le vi (central Spain) vs lo vi (Latin America)
Recognise leísmo (le vi, le conozco) and the Latin American lo.
From the scene ¿Le vi o lo vi? (Le vi or lo vi?)
In short
For a man as object, central Spain often says le vi; Latin America and Galicia say lo vi. Both are accepted.
Your turn
Which one goes with did you see him? (Colombia)?
Options: ¿lo vio? · le vi · le conozco · lo conozco
Show answer
did you see him? (Colombia) → ¿lo vio?
How it works
For a man as the direct object, much of central Spain (Madrid included) says le: le vi, le conozco, le saludé.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Hombre, le (blank). Salía en tus fotos.
Clue: I know him
Options: conoce · conocí · conozco
Show answer
Hombre, le conozco. Salía en tus fotos.
Well, I know him. He was in your photos.
Good to know
Latin America, Galicia and most of the Spanish-speaking world say lo: lo vi, lo conozco.
Good to know
Both are accepted for a male person; for things and women, use lo / la.
I saw him (Madrid) le vi
Elena
Yo le vi esta mañana en la esquina.
I saw him this morning on the corner.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yo (blank) esta mañana en la esquina.
Options: lo vio · le conozco · lo conozco · le vi
Show answer
Elena
Yo le vi esta mañana en la esquina.
I saw him this morning on the corner.
did you see him? (Colombia) ¿lo vio?
Javi
¿Lo vio? ¿Y cómo sabe que era él?
You saw him? And how do you know it was him?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿(blank)? ¿Y cómo sabe que era él?
Options: Le conozco · lo conozco · Lo vio · Le vi
Show answer
Javi
¿Lo vio? ¿Y cómo sabe que era él?
You saw him? And how do you know it was him?
I know him le conozco · lo conozco
I greeted him le saludé
Elena
Pues yo le saludé y le llamé por su nombre.
Well, I said hello to him and called him by his name.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Pues yo (blank) y le llamé por su nombre.
Options: le saludé · le vi · lo vio
Show answer
Elena
Pues yo le saludé y le llamé por su nombre.
Well, I said hello to him and called him by his name.
I called him by his name le llamé por su nombre
Elena
Pues yo le saludé y le llamé por su nombre.
Well, I said hello to him and called him by his name.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Pues yo le saludé y (blank).
Options: le llamé por su nombre · le vi · lo vio
Show answer
Elena
Pues yo le saludé y le llamé por su nombre.
Well, I said hello to him and called him by his name.
Common mistake
Not la or les here. Doña Elena (Madrid), him.
Yo le vi esta mañana en la esquina.
I saw him this morning on the corner.
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 saw him (Madrid) | le vi |
|---|---|
| did you see him? (Colombia) | ¿lo vio? |
| I know him | le conozco · lo conozco |
| I greeted him | le saludé |
| I called him by his name | le llamé por su nombre |
More lines from the story
- ElenaHombre, le conozco. Salía en tus fotos.Well, I know him. He was in your photos.
- ElenaQue no se llamaba Andrés. Que era el cartero.That his name wasn't Andrés. That he was the postman.
- NuriaEn Galicia decimos «lo». Yo lo digo como tú.In Galicia we say "lo". I say it like you.