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An added bonus to learning a language like Spanish is that you usually end up learning more about your native tongue along the way. This is especially true when it comes to grammar. Often, the easiest way to understand something confusing in another language is to compare it to your mother tongue and note differences.

Spanish indirect object pronouns can be un poquito (a little bit) trickier than other parts of speech in Spanish, but they are definitely surmountable, especially since we’ve broken them down into easy-to-understand concepts. This is the same concept that serves as the basis for how Rosetta Stone works. 

What is an indirect object pronoun?

To grasp the use of Spanish indirect object pronouns, start by understanding pronouns in general, including direct object pronouns, and then move on to indirect object pronouns. 

What is a pronoun?

Put simply, a pronoun is a word that substitutes for another noun. Remember that a noun is a person, place, or thing like “Elena,” “Buenos Aires,” or una comida (a meal). Nouns and pronouns can also name concepts like philosophy, beauty, or education. All told, there are nine types of Spanish pronouns. 

What is a direct object pronoun?

To distinguish between direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns, you’ll need to understand Spanish direct object pronouns first. A direct object is any noun in a sentence that receives the action. 

Look at this example sentence: 

• Elena come la espinaca. = Elena eats spinach.

“Elena” is the subject, and la espinaca (spinach) is the direct object because it’s what Elena is eating (the action). Some people call this the complement. 

You can also use a pronoun to substitute for the direct object. If you substitute a direct object pronoun here, the sentence would read:

• Elena la come. = Elena eats it.

Spanish indirect object pronouns

Indirect object pronouns are needed in a sentence when there’s an exchange of a direct object between the subject and an indirect object. This does not have to be an actual object: It could also be an idea, for instance. However, the indirect object will generally be a person or animal. The indirect object is sometimes implied, and we’ll talk more about that soon.

In a sentence with an indirect object pronoun, the basic structural formula is:

• subject + indirect object pronoun + verb + direct object + (indirect object)

Look at this example sentence: 

• Elena les da la espinaca a los huéspedes. = Elena gives spinach to the guests.

Here, Elena (the subject) is not directly eating (the verb) the spinach (the direct object); she is giving it to the guests (the indirect object). So, Spanish requires the indirect object pronoun (les in this example) whenever you have an indirect object in a sentence.

Note that the pronoun les cannot be translated into English when the direct object is explicit as it is in this sentence. 

What are implied indirect objects?

In the previous example, the indirect object (the guests) was explicit. Yet, sometimes, the indirect object is implied. 

If we have already been talking about “the guests,” we could express the idea like this:

• Elena les da la espinaca. = Elena gives them spinach.

In this case, it is absolutely necessary to translate les as “them” because the indirect object is implied, not explicit. When there’s a sentence with an indirect object, the indirect object pronoun is always obligatory, but the indirect object is not because sometimes it’s simply implied.

Spanish indirect object pronouns list

As in many other languages, Spanish uses some of the same pronouns for different grammatical functions. For instance, the direct and indirect object first-person singular pronoun is the same: me. 

The distinguishing feature of the indirect object pronouns is in the third person singular and plural. 

*Used primarily in Spain.

Note that the indirect object pronoun always corresponds to the indirect object (the person or pet receiving the object) and not to the direct object (generally the thing being exchanged or given).

List of verbs that usually or always take the indirect object pronoun

In Spanish, there are certain verbs that always or almost always take the indirect object pronoun because they imply the transfer of an object, communication, or gift. The most common Spanish verb that follows this logic is decir (to say, to tell):

• Yo le digo la verdad a la jueza. = I tell the (female) judge the truth. 

Note: The Spanish verb gustar (to like, to be pleasing to) is a special verb—and it has friends. Verbs like gustar always take indirect object pronouns.

How to use indirect object pronouns with different verb tenses

The indirect object pronoun is usually placed before the verb, but there are a few exceptions for different Spanish verb tenses.

Using indirect object pronouns with the imperative

The imperative tense is used for commands, basically telling someone to do something. In this instance, the indirect object is added to the end of the verb:

• Mándale el paquete. = Send him the package.

Using indirect object pronouns with the infinitive

The indirect object pronoun can be placed either before or after the infinitive. 

• Le voy a mandar un paquete. = I am going to send you a package. (formal)
• Voy a mandarle un paquete. = I am going to send you a package. (formal)

Using indirect object pronouns with the present participle

The present participle is the “-ing” form of the verb in English or the -ANDO / -IENDO form in Spanish. As with the infinitive, the indirect object pronoun can go before or after the verb.

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Fans of the arts, les oiseaux de nuit (night owls), or those interested in a fun and free way to explore a city would love the experience of Nuit Blanche. Nuit Blanche is the term for a popular all-night or late-night French arts festival. Extended hours for museums and other venues, art installations throughout the city, and extensive performances encourage visitors to enjoy the arts and culture of a city at their own pace. Even better, many temporary art installations, performances, and projects are gratuit (free of charge). 

While Nuit Blanche is one of many popular French festivals in Paris, similar events take place around the world. Rosetta Stone can help you build the vocabulary you need to react to art, ask questions, and reflect on the cultural experiences that await you at a Nuit Blanche arts and culture festival. 

What does nuit blanche mean in French? 

Nuit blanche literally translates to “white night” and is a French expression that means “sleepless night” or “all-nighter.” In French, it can be used to mean either an unintentional or a deliberate night without sleep, so the English translation will depend on the context. 

• J’ai passé une nuit blanche à cause du stress et de l’anxiété des examens finaux. = I didn’t sleep a wink because of the stress and anxiety of final exams. 

• J’ai passé une nuit blanche parce que je voulais réviser toutes mes notes avant les examens finaux. = I pulled an all-nighter because I wanted to review all of my notes before final exams. 

>>Learn more French idioms and how to use them!

Grammar notes about the phrase nuit blanche

In French, the adjective usually follows the noun, which is the opposite of the English translation where “white” would precede “night.”

• nuit (night) blanche (white) = white night

The adjective blanche also follows French gender rules and uses the feminine spelling and pronunciation. Notice the difference when we describe a grammatically masculine noun as white in French. 

• le beurre blanc = white butter (a butter-based sauce for fish) 
• la Maison-Blanche = The White House 

How do I pronounce “nuit blanche”?

The word nuit (night) in French is pronounced /nɥi/. It has a very French-sounding vowel sound similar to “oo,” followed by the vowel sound “ee.” You also do not pronounce the final “t,” which is common in French words. An English approximation would be “nwee.” 

Blanche (white) incorporates the nasal vowel sound “ahn” without pronouncing the “n.” The final sound is a soft “shh,” so an English approximation would be “blah-sh”

Rosetta Stone can help you master French pronunciation. Our TruAccent speech recognition engine helps you with all of the specific vowel sounds using the latest in voice recognition technology. Rosetta Stone tutors can also offer feedback to help you speak accurately and be understood with ease! 

What is the history of Nuit Blanche in Paris? 

The first festival named Nuit Blanche welcomed over 500,000 visitors to Paris on October 5, 2002, under artistic director Jean Blaise. It quickly joined the list of popular cultural festivals and holidays in France. Until 2023, the event was typically held on the first Saturday in October, but organizers overwhelmingly opted to move the festivities to juin (June), seeking friendlier weather patterns. 

Going forward, Nuit Blanche Paris edition will take place on the first Saturday in June. If you’ve missed your chance this year, it’s not too late to start making your plans for Paris au printemps (Paris in the Spring)!

Nuit Blanche Paris 2024

Paris’s 23rd annual Nuit Blanche festival was held on Saturday, June 1, 2024. It included over 200 projets d’art contemporain (contemporary art projects) and installations by artists from France and around the world. Involving the monuments of Paris, bringing art into les rues (the streets), and including live performing artists, this cultural festival included every type of media and expression imaginable. 

Nuit Blanche Paris 2024 preceded Les Jeux Olympiques (the Olympic games), which lent a cultural theme to many of the projects. The performances also highlighted France’s overseas territories and the unique experiences of their populations. 

What types of art can I see at Nuit Blanche? 

Beyond museums and traditional exhibitions, the late-night schedule of Nuit Blanche varies each year and in each location but could include art in many forms. 

• le spectacle = performance, show
• la musique = music
• la danse = dance
• la chorégraphie = dance routine
• le film = film; movie
• le documentaire = documentary film
• la performance processionnelle = processional performance
• la poésie = poetry
• le théâtre de rue = street theater
• la sculpture = sculpture
• la peinture (murale) = (mural) painting
• l’art urbain = street art
• le son et lumière = sound and light show
• le textile = textiles and fabric
• la lecture = reading

Where can I experience Nuit Blanche? 

The idea and popularity of Nuit Blanche Paris spread to cities around the world, in French-speaking countries and elsewhere. Some cities have formed networks to share planning and award prizes, while other cities have developed their own unique spin on the event. As you might expect when it comes to art, these events are constantly being reimagined, drawing upon la créativité (creativity) and l’inspiration (inspiration) to form something new and exciting! 

Nuit Blanche in Toronto, Canada

Explore and enjoy Toronto’s art scene on October 5, 2024. Toronto’s celebration of contemporary art began in 2006. This year it features the theme “Bridging Distance.” Attend “Nuit Talks,” free panel discussions with artists both in-person and online leading up to the festival. There are several places (public plazas) that will be centers of the action. 

Nuit Blanche Montreal, Canada

During Montreal’s Nuit Blanche, the bustling city welcomes guests to explore du soir au matin (from dusk to dawn), as les édifices (buildings), les monuments (monuments), temporary street art projects, and celebrations are illuminated in bright colors and visitors can follow themed routes. The event takes place annually in March, so emmitoufle-toi bien ! (bundle up!) 

When learning a new language, verbs and conjugations go hand in hand. But in Japanese, that’s not the only part of speech that’s conjugated! Japanese adjectives get the past, present, and future treatment, too. To describe people, weather, food, and more, understanding Japanese adjective conjugation is important for clear communication. 

For a deeper understanding, put Japanese adjective and verb conjugation into practice with Rosetta Stone tutoring. You can reinforce your knowledge in real-time with expert language instructors, ask questions about core lesson content, and get personalized feedback.

How do Japanese adjectives work?

Japanese adjectives are split into two categories: i-adjectives and na-adjectives. They are named and identified based on how the word ends, similar to how Japanese verbs can be called u-verbs and ru-verbs.

When using them, remember what adjectives are. Adjectives describe nouns or noun phrases. This typically presents itself in one of two ways. Nouns can be preceded by an adjective, as in “a beautiful bird,” or described after the noun, as in “the bird is beautiful.” This is not to be confused with adverbs, which explain how an action is done, as in “the bird flew beautifully.”

Japanese i-adjectives

All i-adjectives end in the Japanese character i (い), so they’re easy to identify. They are also the most common type of adjective and function most similarly to English adjectives. 

Japanese na-adjectives

Japanese na-adjectives are a little more unique. They are also known as keiyoudoushi (形容動詞), or “adjectival nouns.” The na (な) is only used when the adjective goes before the noun it’s describing. The good news is that na-adjective conjugation is really just the conjugation of the Japanese word for “to be,” making them easier to use in a sentence.

Common Japanese adjectives lists

What Japanese adjectives should you learn first? Words pertaining to daily life are a good place to start. One of the standard phrases Japanese learners see first is the question “How are you doing?” and its answer, which both use the adjective for “healthy” or “energetic.”

• Ogenki desu ka?（お元気ですか？） = How are you doing? (Literally: Are you well?)
• Genki desu. (元気です。） = I’m doing well.

This is but one of several adjectives you may find useful when first starting Japanese. Many of the adjectives below are perfect for adding to your repertoire of Japanese words and phrases for travel!

Japanese adjectives for general use

Japanese adjectives to describe objects

Japanese adjectives to describe a person

Japanese adjectives to describe weather and places

Grammar note: Some tricky na-adjectives, like kirei, end in i and conjugate like normal na-adjectives. They are few and far between but need special attention to ensure they are used correctly.

Japanese adjectives to describe food