italiano · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Indirect object pronouns
Replace a + person with gli, le, or plural gli/loro.
Understand the choice
Indirect pronouns encode the person receiving words, objects, or help. Gli is standard for him and common for plural them; le means to her. Formal writing may use loro after the verb for plural recipients.
Core rule: Mi/ti/gli/le/ci/vi/gli replace recipients introduced by a and stand before the finite verb.
Notice it in context
Telefono ai miei genitori e gli racconto il viaggio.
I call my parents and tell them about the trip.
Gli replaces ai miei genitori and precedes racconto; viaggio remains direct object.
Le mando il documento domani.
I will send her the document tomorrow.
Le marks a female recipient; documento is the item.
Ci puoi spiegare la regola?
Can you explain the rule to us?
Ci is recipient before modal puoi; spiegare is infinitive.
What to remember
- Formal Lei also takes Le, often capitalized in correspondence.
- Telefonare a is indirect even though English has no visible to.
Common trap: Do not choose le for every feminine noun; it specifically means to her/formal you.