Lesson 1: Personal Pronouns
Leccion 1: Los Pronombres Personales
What we'll learn / Que aprenderemos:
Pronouns are words we use instead of names. For example, instead of saying "Maria eats" we can say "She eats".
Los pronombres son palabras que usamos en lugar de nombres. Por ejemplo, en vez de decir "Maria come" podemos decir "Ella come".
The Pronouns / Los Pronombres
Yo
(yo)
I
Tu
(too)
You (informal)
Usted
(oo-STED)
You (formal)
El
(el)
He
Ella
(EY-ya)
She
Nosotros
(no-SO-tros)
We
Ellos
(EY-yos)
They (masc/mixed)
Ellas
(EY-yas)
They (fem only)
Important Notes / Notas Importantes:
- "Tu" vs "Usted": Spanish has formal and informal "you". Use "Usted" with elders, strangers, bosses.
- "Ellos" vs "Ellas": Use "Ellos" for all-male or mixed groups. "Ellas" ONLY for all-female groups.
- Pronouns optional: In Spanish, pronouns are often dropped because the verb tells who's speaking.
Examples / Ejemplos
Yo soy Maria. = I am Maria.
Tu eres mi amigo. = You are my friend.
El es un maestro. = He is a teacher.
Ella es una doctora. = She is a doctor.
Nosotros somos estudiantes. = We are students.
Ellos son amigos. = They are friends.
Exercise / Ejercicio
Translate to Spanish:
- I am a student. (Yo soy estudiante)
- She is my sister. (Ella es mi hermana)
- We are friends. (Nosotros somos amigos)
- They (girls) are teachers. (Ellas son maestras)