Spanish word

lo

Pronunciation

IPA/lo/

Meaning

  • pronounit

Example

No lo sé.

I don't know it.

Illustration for lo (it)

More examples

Lo vi ayer.

I saw it yesterday.

Core concept

A neuter placeholder for an unspecified idea, event, or quality.

Common phrases

  • decir lo

    say it

  • ver lo

    see it

  • hacer lo

    do it

Similar words

la: Feminine direct-object pronoun replacing a specific woman or feminine noun (her/it).
le: Indirect-object pronoun indicating the recipient of an action (to/for someone).
esto: Neuter demonstrative that indicates something close to the speaker: a nearby object, event, or idea.

Definition in Spanish

Representa una idea, una situación o una cualidad mencionada o por mencionar; se emplea también para formar sustantivos con adjetivos (lo importante, lo raro).

Word origin

Originates in Latin illud 'that' (neuter), which shortens in Romance to lo and grammaticalizes as a neuter pronoun for abstract reference and adjective nominalization.

Usage tips

  • Frequently combines with que (lo que...) to summarize what someone said or what happened, so knowing lo que constructions helps follow and respond in conversation.

Other meanings

  • the thingarticle

Word lists with this word