A pronoun is a word that is used to replace a noun (that is, a person, place, thing, idea, or quality). A subject pronoun replaces a subject noun (the noun performing the action of the verb). Pronouns are extremely useful because they allow for fluidity by eliminating the need to constantly repeat the noun when speaking or writing.

Just as in English, the Spanish subject pronouns in the following table are given a person and a number (singular or plural).

PERSON / SINGULAR / PLURAL

first / yo (yoh) I / nosotros(as) (noh-soh-trohs[ahs]) we
second / tú (too) you / vosotros(as) (boh-soh-trohs[ahs]) you
third / él (ehl) he / ellos (eh-yohs) they
third / ella (eh-yah) she / ellas (eh-yahs) they
third / Usted (oo-stehd) you / Ustedes (oo-steh-dehs) you

Note the following about Spanish subject pronouns:

• In Spanish, subject pronouns are used far less frequently than in English because the verb ending usually indicates the speaker. Spanish speakers, however, generally use the pronouns usted (abbreviated as Ud.; formal you, singular) and ustedes (abbreviated as Uds.; formal you, plural) to clarify that the subject is not él or ella. All other subject pronouns in Spanish are used mainly for clarity, emphasis, and politeness.
• Unlike the English pronoun I, the pronoun yo is capitalized only when it begins a sentence. In all other instances, it remains in lower case.
• The pronouns nosotras, vosotras, and ellas are used when the subjects are all females. When the subject consists of a mixed group, the masculine plural pronoun is always used.

  Elena y Roberto salen. - Elena and Roberto are going out.
  Ellos salen. - They are going out.

• The English pronoun it has no Spanish equivalent and is not expressed as a subject: ¿Dónde está? (Where is it?)

• The subject pronoun tú is used to address one friend, relative, child, or pet. For this reason, it is referred to as the familiar or informal form of you. The subject pronoun vosotros(as) is used in Spain and a few countries in Latin America. It is used in the plural to show familiarity, and as such, is the plural of the tú, singular familiar (informal) form.

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