The Animated Book
of SpanishGrammar Reference

Spanish Double Object Pronouns

Adapted from The Animated Book of Spanish, an interactive Spanish grammar book.

When a sentence has both an indirect object pronoun (to or for whom) and a direct object pronoun (what), they go together: Te lo doy (I give it to you). There are just two rules to learn.
  • EnglishI give it to you.
    SpanishTe lo doy.
  • EnglishWill you lend it to me?
    Spanish¿Me la prestas?
  • EnglishI told him so.
    SpanishSe lo dije.
On this page

Rule 1: Indirect before direct

The indirect pronoun, who something is given to or done for, always comes first. Then comes the direct one, what the action is done to.

  • EnglishShe explained it to me.
    SpanishMe lo explicó.
  • EnglishThey sent them to us yesterday.
    SpanishNos las mandaron ayer.
  • EnglishWho gave it to you?
    Spanish¿Quién te la regaló?
  • EnglishThis is my brother. Let me introduce him to you.
    SpanishEste es mi hermano. Te lo presento.

Rule 2: Le and les become se

Le and les can't sit right before lo, la, los, or las. When they would, they change to se. The meaning stays the same.

  • EnglishI gave the book to Ana.
    SpanishLe di el libro a Ana.
  • EnglishI gave it to Ana.
    SpanishSe lo di a Ana.
  • EnglishI sent them to my parents.
    SpanishSe las mandé a mis padres.
  • EnglishDid you explain it to her?
    Spanish¿Se lo explicaste?

Where they go

The pair follows the same placement rules as a single pronoun, and it always stays together. It goes right before the conjugated verb.

  • Te lo prometo.

    I promise you.

  • Ya se lo dije.

    I already told her.

In a negative sentence, no (or nunca, todavía no…) goes in front of the pair. Nothing goes between the pronouns and the verb.

  • No me lo creo.

    I can’t believe it.

  • Nunca te lo pedí.

    I never asked you for it.

  • Todavía no se lo he dicho.

    I haven’t told him yet.

With an infinitive or an -ando form, as in the near future and the progressive, the pair can go before the whole thing or on the end. On the end, the word gets a written accent.

  1. Before the verb
    Te lo voy a dar.
    Attached to the end
    Voy a dártelo.

    I’m going to give it to you.

  2. Before the verb
    Se la estoy explicando.
    Attached to the end
    Estoy explicándosela.

    I’m explaining it to him.

  3. Before the verb
    ¿Me lo puedes repetir?
    Attached to the end
    ¿Puedes repetírmelo?

    Can you repeat that for me?

With a positive command, the pair goes on the end. With a negative one, it goes before the verb.

  1. Positive command
    Dámelo.

    Give it to me.

    Negative command
    No me lo des.

    Don’t give it to me.

  2. Positive command
    Díselo.

    Tell him.

    Negative command
    No se lo digas.

    Don’t tell him.

  3. Positive command
    Pásamela, por favor.

    Pass it to me, please.

    Negative command
    No me la pases.

    Don’t pass it to me.

With reflexive pronouns

Reflexive verbs like ponerse and lavarse already have a pronoun (me, te, se…). A direct object pronoun can join it, and the reflexive one comes first.

  1. With the noun
    Me pongo la chaqueta.

    I’m putting on my jacket.

    With a pronoun
    Me la pongo.

    I’m putting it on.

  2. With the noun
    Se lavó el pelo.

    She washed her hair.

    With a pronoun
    Se lo lavó.

    She washed it.

  3. With the noun
    ¿Te comiste la pizza?

    Did you eat the pizza?

    With a pronoun
    Sí, me la comí.

    Yes, I ate it.

When se combines with another pronoun, se always goes first. You'll see this with accidents and things that happen unexpectedly (more in the uses of se):

  • Se me olvidó.

    I forgot.

  • Se te cayó el vaso.

    You dropped the glass.

Common mistakes English speakers make

  1. Putting the direct pronoun first

    Incorrect:Lo te doy.
    Correct:Te lo doy.

    The indirect pronoun comes first, then the direct one.

  2. Saying le lo

    Incorrect:Le lo di.
    Correct:Se lo di.

    Before lo, la, los, or las, le and les become se.

  3. Using a ti instead of te

    Incorrect:Lo doy a ti.
    Correct:Te lo doy.

    The pronoun is required. You can add a ti for emphasis (Te lo doy a ti), but not instead of te.

  4. Splitting the pair up

    Incorrect:Te voy a darlo.
    Correct:Te lo voy a dar.

    The two pronouns stay together, either both before the verb or both on the end: Voy a dártelo.

  5. Flipping the order on the end

    Incorrect:Voy a darlote.
    Correct:Voy a dártelo.

    The order is the same when they're attached: indirect, then direct.

  6. Forgetting the accent

    Incorrect:Dimelo.
    Correct:Dímelo.

    With two pronouns attached, the stress lands three syllables from the end, so it needs a written accent.

Questions about double object pronouns

What are double object pronouns in Spanish?

They're an indirect and a direct object pronoun used together: Te lo doy ("I give it to you"). The indirect one (to or for whom) comes first, then the direct one (what).

What order do double object pronouns go in?

Indirect, then direct: me lo, te la, nos los, se las. An easy way to remember it is "I before D."

Why does le change to se?

When le or les comes right before lo, la, los, or las, it becomes se: Se lo di, never le lo di. It's simply to avoid the awkward "le lo" sound. The meaning doesn't change.

How do you know who "se" refers to?

Usually from context. When it isn't clear, add a él, a ella, a usted, a ellos, or a name: Se lo di a María.

Where do double object pronouns go?

Together, before the conjugated verb (Te lo doy), or together on the end of an infinitive, an -ando form, or a positive command (Voy a dártelo, Dámelo). They never split up.

Do you need an accent when you attach two pronouns?

Almost always. Adding two syllables pushes the stress further back, so it needs a written accent: dar → dártelo, di → dímelo, explicando → explicándoselo.

Next upGustar and verbs like itMe gusta vs. me gustan, a + person, a mí también, liking people, and verbs like encantar and doler.

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