Spanish pronouns: types and examples

By Marta Díaz on Thursday, December 4, 2025

Do you know how many pronouns there are in Spanish? These words are key to mastering the language because they are used in all kinds of situations. In this article, Enforex teaches you all the pronouns that exist in Spanish, how they work, and gives you a quick guide that will be very useful during your studies.

Learning Spanish in Spain will allow you to perfect your command of the language and, with the help of our blog, understand all kinds of grammar, vocabulary, and expressions. Come discover how to use pronouns quickly while immersing yourself in the country's rich culture with Enforex. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know!

What is a Spanish pronoun?

A pronoun is a term that replaces a noun in a sentence to avoid repetition and make the message clearer and more dynamic. Pronouns can perform different grammatical functions: they can be the subject, the direct or indirect object in Spanish...

Below, you will find the different types of pronouns in Spanish:

• Personal pronouns
• Possessive in Spanish
• Demonstrative in Spanish
• Relative pronouns
• Indefinite pronouns
• Reflexive pronouns in Spanish
• Values of the pronoun se

Enforex will focus this article on Spanish personal pronouns, how they are used, and examples that will help you identify them during your classes or conversations. We also provide some exercises for you to practice.

What are personal pronouns in Spanish?

Spanish personal pronouns refer to the people participating in a conversation. They are used to replace the subject or complements within a sentence, and they change according to grammatical person, number, and, in some cases, gender.

In Spanish, personal pronouns are divided into:

1. Subject personal pronouns: these indicate who is performing the action of the verb. They are:

Person	Singular	Plural
First	Yo	Nosotros/Nosotras
Second	Tú/Usted	Vosotros/Vosotras/Ustedes
Third	Él/Ella	Ellos/Ellas

Although in Spanish it is common to omit the pronoun because the verb conjugation already indicates who is performing the action, they are used to:

• Highlight or contrast ideas. Example: “Yo prefiero chocolate, pero ella pide vainilla” (I prefer chocolate, but she asks for vanilla)
• Clarify when there is confusion. Example: “Él llegó temprano; ella, más tarde” (He arrived early; she arrived later)
• Responding directly. Example: “¿Quién llamó? Yo” (Who called? I did)

2. Personal complement pronouns replace the direct or indirect object of the sentence. They are divided into two types: direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns.

The direct object pronoun indicates who or what is directly affected by the action. They are:

• Singular: me, te, se, lo, la
• Plural: nos, os, los, las

The indirect object pronoun indicates who receives the benefit, harm, or indirect effect of the action. They are:

• Singular: me, te, le
• Plural: nos, os, les

3. Reflexive pronouns: these are used when the action falls on the person performing it. These pronouns are me, te, se, nos, os, les

One detail to keep in mind is that in several Spanish-speaking countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the pronoun vos is used instead of tú, and its verb conjugation is different. Example:

• Tú hablas → Vos hablás
• Tú comes → Vos comés

Examples of Spanish personal pronouns

Here are some sentences to show you how personal pronouns are used and the wide variety that exists.

• Nosotras aprendemos nuevas palabras cada semana en clase (We learn new words every week in class)
• Él no entiende por qué ella nunca llega a tiempo (He doesn't understand why she is never on time)
• Ustedes podrán revisar el material cuando terminen el trabajo (You can review the material when you finish the work)
• Yo pensaba que vosotros veníais mañana, no hoy (I thought you were coming tomorrow, not today)
• Ellas prepararon una presentación increíble para el proyecto final (They prepared an incredible presentation for the final project)
• Tú deberías descansar un poco antes de continuar (You should rest a little before continuing)
• Nos invitaron a una conferencia sobre lengua española (We were invited to a conference on the Spanish language)
• Me pidieron que explicara el uso de los pronombres en español (I was asked to explain the use of pronouns in Spanish)
• Se sorprendió al ver cuánto había avanzado en tan poco tiempo (He was surprised to see how much progress he had made in such a short time)
• Te enviaré la información completa por correo más tarde (I will send you the complete information by email later)

Once you have internalized the personal pronouns in Spanish, here is an exercise for you to complete with the appropriate pronoun. Don't worry, we'll give you the answers at the end of this article. Good luck!

• ___ compramos los billetes ayer para el concierto
• ¿Quién llamó? ___ no conozco ese número
• ¿A quién viste ayer? ___ vi en el centro comercial
• ¿Puedes ayudar ___ con esta tarea?
• ___ piensa que llegar temprano es importante
• Los profesores dijeron que ___ debemos estudiar más
• ¿Dónde están mis libros? No ___ encuentro por ningún lado
• Si ___ molesta el ruido, podemos cerrar la ventana
• Cuando terminó la película, todos miraron a Carlos, pero ___ no dijo nada
• ¿Vas a comprar esas flores? Sí, ___ ___voy a llevar a mi madre

Spanish pronouns are essential for communicating naturally in Spanish, as they simplify sentences and avoid unnecessary repetition. Familiarizing yourself with them will help you express yourself confidently in any situation.

If you still have questions about their use, you can join one of our intensive Spanish courses and discover all the wonders of Spain at the same time with Enforex. We are waiting for you!

Answers: nosotros / yo / le / me / él o ella / nosotras / los / te / él / se las