It Pronoun In Spanish | What Native Speakers Actually Use

Spanish has no direct subject pronoun for “it.” The concept is expressed either by omitting the pronoun entirely or by using gendered object.

You learn English first. It is raining. I like it. Give it to me. The word “it” seems small and simple. Then you start Spanish and realize the slot for that pronoun doesn’t exist the same way.

That’s not a flaw — it’s a different system. Spanish relies on verb endings to tell you who or what is doing the action, and nouns come with a gender that determines which object pronoun you reach for. This article breaks down the three main jobs “it” can perform and shows you the Spanish equivalent for each one.

Why Spanish Has No “It” as a Subject

English demands a subject in almost every sentence. Spanish does not. Because each verb form already carries the person and number, the pronoun is optional. When the subject is “it” — as in weather, time, or general statements — Spanish simply drops the pronoun and conjugates the verb.

A Spanish speaker says Llueve for “It is raining.” The verb alone carries the meaning. No “ello,” no “it.” The same pattern applies to Hace frío (It is cold) and Es importante (It is important). Subject pronouns in Spanish exist mainly for emphasis or clarity.

Grammatically, there is no neuter gender for nouns in Spanish. All nouns are masculine or feminine, so a neuter pronoun like “it” has no natural home in the subject position. The language simply works around that gap.

The Three Main Functions of “It” in Spanish

Learners often expect one magic word to cover every use. Instead, the translation changes depending on whether “it” is the subject, the direct object, or the object of a preposition. Here are the three roles and their Spanish counterparts:

• Subject of a verb: Drop the pronoun entirely. Use the correct verb conjugation. Es verdad = It is true. Está lloviendo = It is raining.
• Direct object: Use lo (masculine) or la (feminine), matching the gender of the noun it replaces. ¿Tienes el libro? Sí, lo tengo. (Do you have the book? Yes, I have it.)
• Object of a preposition: Use the neuter demonstratives eso (that), esto (this), or the formal ello. Hablamos de eso (We talked about it).

Once you split these categories, the mystery disappears. The pronoun shifts are predictable once you know the noun’s gender and the sentence role.

“Lo,” “La,” and the Neuter Gender Gap

When “it” refers to a specific object, Spanish uses the same third-person pronouns you already know for “him” and “her.” A book (el libro) is masculine, so you say lo. A table (la mesa) is feminine, so you say la. This feels strange to English speakers because we never think of a table as feminine, but the logic is consistent once you memorize noun genders.

Berlitz explains this clearly in its guide on pronoun categories, pointing out that Spanish has no neuter gender for nouns. That absence is the root of the whole “it” puzzle. Without a neuter category, every noun must be treated as masculine or feminine, and the pronoun follows suit.

For abstract concepts — ideas, statements, or unnamed things — Spanish uses the neuter demonstratives esto, eso, and aquello. These are gender-neutral because they don’t replace a specific noun. They point to the concept itself. Learners often lean on eso more heavily than ello in conversation because it sounds natural.

Note: Some Spanish speakers now use elle as a gender-neutral personal pronoun for people, especially in LGBTQ+ circles. It refers to a person, not a thing, and is not officially recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy.

When to Use “Ello” and Other Neuter Forms

Most textbooks mention the word ello. Then they warn you not to overuse it. The pronoun exists, but it sounds stiff in everyday speech. Here are the two situations where it can work — and the alternative that sounds more natural.

1. As a subject pronoun (rarely used): Ello es posible (It is possible). You will almost never hear this in conversation. Drop the pronoun instead: Es posible.
2. As the object of a preposition (formal only): Se trata de ello (It concerns it). This appears in written legal or academic contexts. In casual chat, use eso: Se trata de eso.
3. To refer to an abstract idea: Stick with eso or esto. No entiendo eso (I don’t understand it/that) is much more natural than No entiendo ello.

The practical takeaway: treat ello as a word you recognize when reading but rarely produce yourself. Use eso and esto as your default neuter pronouns for references and ideas.

Practical Strategies for Mastering “It” in Spanish

Instead of memorizing one translation, build three reflexes. First, for the subject, train yourself to start the sentence with the verb. Es tarde (It is late). Hace sol (It is sunny). Second, for direct objects, always think about the noun’s gender before choosing lo or la. Third, for prepositional references, keep eso ready in your pocket.

Per Lingvist’s breakdown of pronoun categories, subject pronouns in Spanish. That means you don’t need to search for the equivalent of “it” at all when it would be the grammatical subject. The verb alone does the job. This is one of the most freeing differences for English speakers — once you accept it, your sentences will sound instantly more natural.

The same source recommends focusing your practice on direct object pronouns and neuter demonstratives rather than chasing a direct translation. Two great exercises: rewrite ten English sentences that use “it” as a subject and drop the pronoun in Spanish, then practice replacing nouns in sentences with lo or la until it feels automatic.

The Bottom Line

Spanish does not treat “it” as a single pronoun. You drop the pronoun for subjects, use lo or la for direct objects by matching the noun’s gender, and rely on eso or esto for abstract references. This system is consistent and, once you practice the pattern, becomes automatic.

If you are preparing for a DELE exam or working toward conversational fluency, a certified Spanish instructor can give you targeted exercises on pronoun choice based on your current level and the regional variety you are learning.