To avoid repeating a noun, use a direct object pronoun ("it," "him," "her," or "them"). In Italian, these agree in gender and number with the noun they replace and go immediately before the conjugated verb.
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | lo | li |
| Feminine | la | le |
Lo and La (Singular)
Use lo to replace masculine singular nouns and la for feminine singular nouns.
| Where is the dictionary? I am looking for it. | Dov'è il dizionario? Lo cerco. |
| Maria loves pizza. She eats it often. | Maria ama la pizza. La mangia spesso. |
In negative sentences, the pronoun goes between non and the verb.
| The text is difficult. I do not understand it. | Il testo è difficile. Non lo capisco. |
Li and Le (Plural)
Use li for masculine plural nouns and le for feminine plural nouns.
| These flowers are beautiful. I buy them. | Questi fiori sono belli. Li compro. |
| Where are the t-shirts? I do not see them. | Dove sono le magliette? Non le vedo. |
People vs. Things
These same pronouns replace both inanimate objects and people.
| The professor helps Maria, and she thanks him. | Il professore aiuta Maria, e lei lo ringrazia. |
| I love my mother and I thank her. | Amo mia madre e la ringrazio. |
| The grandparents arrive today. We are waiting for them at the station. | I nonni arrivano oggi. Li aspettiamo alla stazione. |
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