Loísmo

Using lo/los instead of le and les

Loísmo

Sometimes in Spanish you will hear people incorrectly use the Spanish lo/los instead of the correct indirect object pronouns le/les for him/them. This is called loísmo. For example:

loísmo:

Los dije que era una mala idea. incorrect

I told them it was a bad idea.

correct use:

Les dije que era una mala idea.I told them it was a bad idea.
 

loísmo:

Lo di unas monedas porque estaba hambriento. 

I gave him some coins because he was starving.

correct use:

Le di unas monedas porque estaba hambriento.I gave him some coins because he was starving.
 

 

Loísmo is not very extended in Spain or Latin America; you may hear this incorrect use of lo/los in parts of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, and also in parts of Asturias in northern Spain.

The R.A.E considers this use of lo/los as incorrect. 

See also:

 

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