Questions & Answers about Lo olvidé completamente.
Why is lo used in Lo olvidé completamente?
Lo is a direct object pronoun meaning it (or sometimes him, in some contexts, though here learners usually meet it as it).
In this sentence, it stands for the thing that was forgotten:
- Olvidé el libro. = I forgot the book.
- Lo olvidé. = I forgot it.
So lo replaces a previously mentioned masculine singular noun, or sometimes an idea/situation treated as it.
Why does lo come before olvidé instead of after it?
In Spanish, unstressed object pronouns normally go before a conjugated verb.
So:
- Lo olvidé = I forgot it
not:
- Olvidé lo ❌
Pronouns can attach to the end of the verb only in certain structures, such as:
- olvidarlo = to forget it
- olvídalo = forget it
But with a normal conjugated past-tense verb like olvidé, the pronoun goes before it.
What exactly is olvidé?
Why is there an accent mark on olvidé?
The accent mark shows both stress and helps distinguish the form.
- olvidé = I forgot
- olvide = a different form or a misspelling in this context
In olvidé, the stress falls on the last syllable: ol-vi-DÉ.
That accent is important in writing because it marks the correct preterite ending for yo in many -ar verbs:
- hablé
- compré
- olvidé
Why isn’t yo included?
Spanish often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is.
- olvidé already means I forgot
So:
- Lo olvidé completamente. = natural
- Yo lo olvidé completamente. = also correct
Adding yo is usually for emphasis, contrast, or clarity:
- Yo lo olvidé, no ella. = I forgot it, not her.
What would change if the thing forgotten were feminine or plural?
The direct object pronoun would change to match the noun:
- Lo olvidé = I forgot it (masculine singular)
- La olvidé = I forgot it (feminine singular)
- Los olvidé = I forgot them (masculine/mixed plural)
- Las olvidé = I forgot them (feminine plural)
Examples:
- Olvidé la llave. → La olvidé.
- Olvidé los documentos. → Los olvidé.
Is completamente in a natural position here?
Yes. Lo olvidé completamente is grammatical and natural.
Completamente is an adverb meaning completely, and here it modifies olvidé.
Other natural possibilities include:
- Lo olvidé por completo.
- Lo olvidé completamente.
Both are common. Por completo often sounds a little more idiomatic in everyday Spanish, but completamente is perfectly fine.
What is the difference between Lo olvidé and Me olvidé?
This is a very common question.
- Lo olvidé = I forgot it
- Me olvidé by itself usually means I forgot / it slipped my mind, but it often needs more context or a complement.
Very often Spanish speakers say:
- Me olvidé de eso. = I forgot about that.
- Se me olvidó. = I forgot it / It slipped my mind.
So the patterns are slightly different:
olvidar + direct object
- Lo olvidé.
- Me olvidé de eso.
Very common spontaneous-forgetting structure:
- Se me olvidó.
In your sentence, Lo olvidé completamente is a straightforward, correct way to say I completely forgot it.
Can lo refer to an idea, not just a physical object?
Would Lo olvidaba completamente mean the same thing?
No, not exactly.
- Lo olvidé completamente = I completely forgot it
- a completed past action
- Lo olvidaba completamente = I was completely forgetting it / I used to completely forget it
- imperfect, which gives a different sense
The preterite (olvidé) is the natural choice when you mean a specific completed act of forgetting.
How do you pronounce Lo olvidé completamente in Spain?
A simple guide for Spain Spanish:
- Lo → like loh
- olvidé → ol-vee-DEH
- completamente → kom-pleh-ta-MEN-teh
Approximate full pronunciation:
loh ol-vee-DEH kom-pleh-ta-MEN-teh
A few notes:
Could I say Lo he olvidado completamente instead?
Yes. That would also be correct, but it is a different tense.
- Lo olvidé completamente = preterite; a completed past action
- Lo he olvidado completamente = present perfect; often connected more to the present
In Spain, the present perfect is used quite a lot for recent past actions or past actions felt as relevant now. So in Spain Spanish, Lo he olvidado completamente can sound very natural in the right context.
Is this sentence formal or informal?
It is neutral. It works in both formal and informal situations.
Nothing in Lo olvidé completamente is especially casual, slangy, or formal. It is just standard Spanish.
If you wanted a slightly more conversational alternative, you might also hear:
- Se me olvidó por completo.
But your sentence is perfectly standard and natural.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning SpanishMaster Spanish — from Lo olvidé completamente to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions