Tips 019: 3 Ways To Use “Lo” In A Sentence

In the latest episode of the Real Fast Spanish tips podcast, we will be looking at a common Spanish word that can be used in a number of different contexts.

One of the reasons that this word causes students trouble is that it can mean slightly different things in different scenarios. But is a high use word that comes up often so it is worth getting to know.

But, before I talk about the uses of “lo” in this episode I mention some of the more colloquial phrases that I have been learning recently with some of my friends here in Spain. And these colloquial expressions mentioned in this episode all relate to milk.

The phrases:

Hoy va a ser la leche

Literal: Today is going to be the milk

Actual: Today is going to be awesome.

Ir a toda leche

Literal: To go to all milk or to go to all the milk

Actual: To be going at top speed (all engines firing)

Tener mala leche

Literal: To have bad milk

Actual: To have a bad temper

Estar de mala leche

Literal: To be of bad milk

Actual: To be in a bad mood

¡Qué mala leche!

Literal: What bad milk!

Actual: To have bad luck

Back to the theoretical topic for this episode and moving on the uses of “lo”.

Examples from today’s episode:

I buy a book – Compro un libro

I buy it – Lo compro

I have a car – Tengo un coche

I have it – Lo tengo

I want the food – Quiero la comida

I want it – La quiero

I want to buy a book – Quiero comprar un libro

I want to buy it – Lo quiero comprar

or

I want to buy it – Quiero comprarlo

I like to eat chicken – Me gusta comer el pollo

I like to eat it – Me gusta comerlo

or

I like to eat it – Lo me gusta comer

Do you know? – Sabes?

I know – Yo sé

I know it – Yo lo sé

That which is good – Lo bueno

That which is the best – Lo mejor

That which is the same – Lo mismo

What, that, that which – Lo que

What I want is to speak Spanish – Lo que quiero es hablar Español

I know what you want to do – Yo sé lo que quieres hacer

I know that you want to do something – Yo sé que quieres hacer algo

This episodes quote:

“Merece lo que sueñas.” – Octavio Paz

How else could you use “lo” in a sentence?

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