Double Object Pronouns in Spanish: A Complete Guide (Te lo doy, Se lo dije)

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Key Takeaways

• Master the mandatory word order: Indirect Object Pronoun (I.O.) before Direct Object Pronoun (D.O.) – the “RID” rule (Reflexive, Indirect, Direct).
• Understand the non-negotiable change: le and les become se when used with lo, la, los, las.
• Learn pronoun placement rules with conjugated verbs, infinitives, gerunds, and commands.
• Apply this knowledge to avoid repetition and make your Spanish more fluid and natural.
• Identify and correct common errors in pronoun order and placement.

The Key to Fluid Sentences: Combining Pronouns
At A2, you learned to use single object pronouns. At B1, you must combine them. Double object pronouns allow you to replace both the indirect and direct object in a sentence, transforming clumsy repetition into elegant, native-sounding Spanish. Mastering this is non-negotiable for intermediate fluency.

What Are Double Object Pronouns?

They are used when a verb has both an indirect object (to/for whom?) and a direct object (what?/who?).

Clunky Repetition: “Yo doy el libro a ti.” (I give the book to you.)
With Double Pronouns: “Yo te lo doy.” (I give it to you.)

The Golden Rules: Order and Change

1. The “RID” Order Rule

Pronouns must always appear in this order before the conjugated verb:
Reflexive > Indirect > Direct
(Since reflexive pronouns (me, te, se) are also indirect objects, think of it as I.O. always comes before D.O.)

Table: Pronoun Combinations

Indirect Object (to/for)	+	Direct Object (it/them)	=	Combined Pronouns
me (to me)	+	lo (it – masc.)	=	me lo
te (to you)	+	la (it – fem.)	=	te la
le (to him/her/you formal)	+	los (them – masc.)	=	se los (LE becomes SE!)
nos (to us)	+	las (them – fem.)	=	nos las
os (to you all – Spain)	+	lo	=	os lo
les (to them/you all)	+	la	=	se la (LES becomes SE!)

2. The Mandatory “Le/Les” to “Se” Change

This is the most important rule: When le or les is followed by lo, la, los, or las, they always combine to become SE.

• “I give it to him.” = Se lo doy. (NOT “Le lo doy” – this is always incorrect).
• “She tells it to them.” = Se lo dice. (NOT “Les lo dice”).

Why? “Le lo” is difficult to pronounce. “Se lo” flows naturally.

💻 Practice Verb Conjugations with Pronouns

Once you attach pronouns, the verb conjugation must still be correct. Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool to practice the core verb form before adding the pronouns in front or behind.

➤ Try the Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool Now

Where to Place Double Object Pronouns

The placement depends on the verb form, following the same rules as single pronouns.

Rule 1: Before a Conjugated Verb

This is the default.

• “Te lo prometo.” (I promise it to you.)
• “Nunca se los presto.” (I never lend them to him.)

Rule 2: Attached to an Infinitive or Gerund (-ndo)

Pronouns can be attached to the end of the infinitive or present participle (gerund), or placed before the conjugated helper verb (debo, puedo, estoy).

• Voy a decírtelo / Te lo voy a decir. (I am going to tell it to you.)
• Está escribiéndosenos / Nos lo está escribiendo. (He is writing it to us.)

Important: When attaching to an infinitive or gerund, you must add an accent to maintain the original word stress.

• decir + te + lo = decírtelo
• escribiendo + nos + lo = escribiéndosenos

Rule 3: With Affirmative Commands

Pronouns are attached to the end of the command.

• “Dímelo!” (Tell it to me!)
• “Compradnoslos.” (Buy them for us.) – Vosotros

Rule 4: With Negative Commands

Pronouns are placed before the verb.

• “No me lo digas.” (Don’t tell it to me.)
• “No se lo den.” (Don’t give it to him/her/them.)

Step-by-Step Example

Original Sentence: “El profesor explica la lección a los estudiantes.”

1. Identify I.O.: a los estudiantes = les (to them)
2. Identify D.O.: la lección = la (it – fem.)
3. Apply “le/les to se” rule: les + la → se la
4. Place pronouns: Default is before conjugated verb explica.
5. New Sentence: “El profesor se la explica.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Reversing the Order (D.O. before I.O.): “Lo te doy.” (Wrong). → Te lo doy.
• Not Changing “Le/Les” to “Se”: “Le lo di.” (Wrong and never used). → Se lo di.
• Adding Redundant Pronouns: “Se lo di a él.” (This is acceptable for clarity, but often redundant). “Se lo di.” is usually enough.
• Misplacing with Negative Commands: “No dígamelo.” (Wrong). → No me lo diga.
• Forgetting Accent Marks: “Dime lo” (Wrong, stress is wrong). → Dímelo.

Putting It All Together: A Natural Dialogue

Clunky Version: “¿Vas a dar el regalo a María? Sí, voy a dar el regalo a María después de comprar el regalo para el regalo.”
Fluid Version (with Double Pronouns): “¿Se lo vas a dar a María? Sí, se lo voy a dar después de comprárselo.”

Translation: “Are you going to give it to María? Yes, I’m going to give it to her after buying it for her.”

Quick Reference Chart

Situation	Placement	Example
Conjugated Verb	Before verb	Te la envío.
Infinitive	Before conjugated verb OR attached to infinitive	Voy a decírtelo / Te lo voy a decir.
Gerund (-ndo)	Before conjugated verb OR attached to gerund	Está escribiéndomela / Me la está escribiendo.
Affirmative Command	Attached to end of command	Tráemelo.
Negative Command	Before verb	No me lo traigas.
Golden Rule	I.O. before D.O.; le/les → se before lo/la/los/las	Se lo doy (not “le lo”).

Practice Exercise: Replace with Double Pronouns
Replace the underlined objects with double pronouns in the correct place.

1. Ella va a prestar su coche (it) a mí (to me).
2. ¿Puedes explicar la teoría (it) a nosotros (to us)?
3. ¡No digas los secretos (them) a tu hermana (to her)!
4. El chef está sirviendo la cena (it) a los clientes (to them).

Answers:

1. Ella me lo va a prestar. / Ella va a prestármelo.
2. ¿Nos la puedes explicar? / ¿Puedes explicárnosla?
3. ¡No se los digas!
4. El chef se la está sirviendo. / El chef está sirviéndosela.

📚 Review Related Topics: Direct Object Pronouns | Indirect Object Pronouns | Formal Commands | Infinitive Verbs | Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool

Ready to Make Your Spanish Sound Effortless?
Mastering double object pronouns eliminates repetition and is a hallmark of confident Spanish. Test your ability to combine and place them correctly.

Take Our Double Object Pronouns Quiz ►

Pro Tip: The “le/les to se” change is your best friend. If you remember nothing else, remember: “Le lo” and “Les la” do not exist in Spanish. It is always “Se lo” and “Se la.” This alone will correct a huge number of errors.