Double object pronouns (se lo) and clitic placement

What it is

Sometimes both objects are already known: the thing and the person. Spanish then uses two pronouns together: Te lo doy (I give it to you). Three rules cover it: the order, se instead of le, and a pair that never splits.

How to form it

1. Person first, thing second. The indirect pronoun (the person) comes before the direct one (the thing):

2. le/les → se. Before lo, la, los, las, le and les become se: not le lo, but se lo. Se can mean "to him, to her, to you (usted), to them". The context, or an extra a él, a ella, a ustedes, makes it clear: Se lo doy a ella.

3. The pair stays together. It goes before the conjugated verb or on the end of an infinitive or gerund, never split:

• Te lo voy a dar = Voy a dártelo
• Se lo estoy explicando = Estoy explicándoselo

When you attach the pronouns, add a written accent to keep the stress of the verb: dar → dártelo, mandar → mandárselas, explicando → explicándoselo.

When to use it

When both the thing and the person are clear from the context, typically in answers:

• —¿Me prestas tu diccionario? —Sí, te lo presto.—Will you lend me your dictionary? —Yes, I'll lend it to you.me + lo
• ¿El regalo de Ana? Se lo doy esta noche.Ana's present? I'm giving it to her tonight.le + lo → se lo
• Voy a mandárselas mañana.I'm going to send them to them tomorrow.attached + accent

Contrasts and traps

• Lo, la still agree with the thing: el libro → se lo, la carta → se la, las fotos → se las.
• In much of Latin America you'll hear Se los doy meaning "I give it to them": the plural of the people moves onto los. Understand it, but Se lo doy (a ellos) is the standard form.
• Never split the pair: not Te voy a darlo.

If you also speak Portuguese

Brazilian Portuguese avoids pronoun pairs: Dou pra ela and the thing simply disappears. Spanish keeps both: Se lo doy. Practise the pairs until te lo, se la, me los sound like one word.