The standard as a starting point
In the standard, the pronoun depends on its function: lo and la stand for the direct object, le for the indirect one. Whether it refers to a person or a thing makes no difference. This system is considered correct everywhere.
A Pablo lo vi ayer.
I saw Pablo yesterday.
Direct object, masculine.
A Lucía la llamé anoche.
I called Lucía last night.
Direct object, feminine.
A Lucía le dije que viniera.
I told Lucía to come.
Indirect object, masculine or feminine.
A quick test for the direct object: it can become the subject of a passive. Vi a Pablo becomes Pablo fue visto. With Dije algo a Lucía that does not work for Lucía: she stays the indirect object. English him and her hide this split, so the test helps.
Three departures from the standard
In central and northern Spain the pronouns are partly organised by person and gender rather than by function. This gives rise to three phenomena that are judged very differently.
What it is and how it is judged
| Phenomenon | Example | Standard | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leísmo: le instead of lo, one man | A Pablo le vi ayer. | A Pablo lo vi ayer. | accepted |
| Leísmo with usted | Le saluda atentamente. | Lo / La saluda atentamente. | accepted, very widespread |
| Leísmo: les instead of los, several men | A tus hermanos les vi en el bar. | A tus hermanos los vi en el bar. | widespread, not recommended in careful usage |
| Leísmo: le for a woman or a thing | El libro le leí en verano. | El libro lo leí en verano. | not correct |
| Laísmo: la instead of le | A Lucía la dije que viniera. | A Lucía le dije que viniera. | not correct |
| Loísmo: lo instead of le | A Pablo lo di un regalo. | A Pablo le di un regalo. | not correct, heavily stigmatised |
So the line does not run between the three names but inside leísmo: for one man, le as a direct object is accepted; for a woman or a thing it is not. Laísmo and loísmo count as mistakes in every form.
Where you hear what
Central and northern Spain
Leísmo for men is everyday usage here, in the press and on television too. You hear laísmo mainly in conversation in Madrid and Castile, rarely in careful writing.
Latin America, Andalusia, Canary Islands
Here the standard usually applies: lo vi for a man. You hear le as a direct object mainly with usted (¿Le acompaño?) and after impersonal se (Se le considera un experto).
For you this means: with lo / la for the direct object and le for the indirect one you are right everywhere. You need to understand leísmo for men in Spain, and you may use it. Laísmo you pick up in Madrid is better left alone.
When le with a thing is correct
Not every le referring to a thing is leísmo. If the thing is the indirect object, the standard calls for le. This often happens when the sentence also has a direct object.
A la sopa le falta sal.
The soup needs salt.
la sopa is the indirect object, sal is the subject.
Al coche le cambié las ruedas.
I changed the tyres on the car.
las ruedas is the direct object, el coche the indirect one.
