Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Anoto lo esencial en mi agenda antes de la reunión. - I write down the essentials in my planner before the meeting.

Anoto is the simple present (I write/jot down) and in Spanish it comfortably covers habits and general actions. You can also use it for something you’re about to do. If you want to stress that you’re in the middle of the action right now, use the progressive: Estoy anotando lo esencial en mi agenda... Both are correct; the simple present is just more common and neutral in Spanish.

What exactly does anotar mean? Are there Latin American alternatives?

Anotar means to write down, to jot down, or to note. It also means to score (in sports). Common alternatives:

Apuntar: widely used in Latin America as well (also means to aim, so context matters).
Escribir: to write (more general, not specifically “write down”).
Tomar nota (de): to take note (of), slightly more formal. Example: Apunto/Tomo nota de lo esencial en mi agenda... all sound natural.

Is the lo in lo esencial a direct object pronoun?

No. Here lo is the neuter article that turns an adjective into a noun-like idea. Lo esencial means “the essential part/thing(s)” in an abstract, uncountable way. As a direct object pronoun, lo would replace a masculine singular noun (it/him), as in Lo anoto (I write it down). You can tell it’s the neuter article because it’s followed by an adjective: lo esencial, lo importante, lo necesario.

Could I say el esencial or los esenciales instead of lo esencial?

Not in this sentence. Lo esencial is an abstract concept. If you want a plural, you need a noun: los puntos esenciales, las cosas esenciales. Saying los esenciales is only okay when the noun is truly understood from context and commonly omitted; otherwise, add a noun.

Why is it en mi agenda and not a mi agenda or por mi agenda?

With writing, Spanish uses en to indicate the surface/container: anotar/escribir en un cuaderno, en una agenda, en el calendario. A marks direction/goal (not used for writing on a surface), and por would express cause, means, or movement through, which doesn’t fit here.

What does agenda mean in Spanish? Is it the same as an English meeting agenda?

In Latin America, agenda most commonly means a planner/diary/schedule (paper or digital). For a meeting’s list of topics, you’ll hear both la agenda de la reunión (now very common due to English influence) and the more traditional el orden del día or temario. In this sentence, mi agenda is your personal planner/schedule.

How do I express different “before” structures: with nouns, verbs, and clauses?

Before + noun: antes de
- noun → antes de la reunión.
Before + verb (same subject): antes de
- infinitive → antes de reunirme.
Before + clause (different subject or full clause): antes de que
- subjunctive → antes de que empiece la reunión.

Why is it de la reunión and not del reunión?

Reunión is feminine, so it’s de la. The contraction del only happens with de + el (masculine singular). Example: antes del partido, but antes de la reunión.

Do I need the article in la reunión? Could I say antes de reunión?

Spanish normally uses articles. Use:

antes de la reunión for a specific, known meeting.
antes de una reunión if any/unspecified meeting.
antes de mi reunión if it’s your meeting. Bare antes de reunión is generally not idiomatic.

How would I say “I write it down in my planner before the meeting”?

Use a direct object pronoun: Lo anoto en mi agenda antes de la reunión. With negation: No lo anoto... The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb (or attached to an infinitive/gerund: voy a anotarlo, estoy anotándolo).

Is there any risk in saying me anoto?

Yes. Anotarse often means “to sign up/enroll” in Latin America: Me anoto a la clase (I’m signing up for the class). For “I write down,” keep it non-reflexive: anoto.

Pronunciation tips for key words?

anoto: ah-NO-to (stress on NO).
agenda: ah-HEN-da; g before e/i sounds like a hard h (like Spanish j).
reunión: reu-nyón; the eu forms one syllable, stress on the last syllable (accent on -ón).
esencial: eh-sen-SYAL (in Latin America, c before e/i sounds like s).

If I want to emphasize purpose rather than time, can I use para?

Yes. To say you write the essentials for the meeting (purpose), use para: Anoto lo esencial para la reunión. The original antes de la reunión focuses on when you do it; para la reunión focuses on why/for what.