Spanish · C2 · Family moment
There It Is, Your Little Spoon in Spanish
This guide focuses on the conversational technique of 'right dislocation.' In Spanish, this involves using a clitic pronoun (like lo, la, los, las) as a placeholder, followed by a soft pause and then naming the specific object or person. This clarifies the reference while maintaining a gentle, rhythmic tone suitable for infants.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of anticipatory direct object pronouns in conversational Spanish.
- Practice 'afterthought intonation' to name objects your baby is already observing.
- Understand gender and number agreement between the anticipatory pronoun and the detached noun phrase.
Spanish phrases for there it is, your little spoon
La he encontrado, tu cucharadita.
I've found it, your little spoon.
Uses 'la' to anticipate the feminine noun 'cucharadita'.
Puedes sostenerlo, tu osito suave.
You can hold him, your soft teddy.
'Lo' refers to the masculine 'osito'. Spanish uses 'lo' for 'him' when referring to inanimate objects or animals.
La calentaré primero, tu toallita.
I'll warm it first, your washcloth.
'La' matches 'toallita'. Using the future tense 'calentaré' is common in parentese.
Necesitamos uno ahora, un pañal limpio.
We need one now, a clean nappy.
Uses the indefinite pronoun 'uno' to anticipate the masculine 'pañal'.
Te los pondré, tus calcetines calientitos.
I'll put them on you, your cosy socks.
'Los' matches 'calcetines'. The 'te' is the indirect pronoun for 'you'.
La estás mirando, a tu abuela.
You're looking at her, your grandma.
Requires the 'personal a' before 'tu abuela' because she is a specific person.
Le daré un lavado, a esa taza pegajosa.
I'll give it a wash, that sticky cup.
'Le' is used here as an indirect object referring to the cup being washed.
Los puedes oír, los pajaritos afuera.
You can hear them, the birds outside.
'Los' anticipates the plural masculine 'pajaritos'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Cucharadita
Little spoon
The diminutive '-ita' makes the word sound more affectionate.
Osito
Teddy bear
Literal translation is 'little bear'.
Pañal
Diaper / Nappy
Commonly used in all Spanish-speaking regions.
Calientitos
Cosy / Warm
Diminutive form of 'caliente', often used to describe comfort.
Conversational Right Dislocation
In Spanish, redundant pronouns are frequent in speech. When we name the object at the end of the sentence as an afterthought, we must include the object pronoun (lo, la, los, las) before the verb to 'reserve' the space for that noun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | Lo [verb], [Masculine Noun] | Lo veo, el gato. |
| Feminine Singular | La [verb], [Feminine Noun] | La tengo, la pelota. |
| Plural | Los/Las [verb], [Plural Noun] | Los quiero, tus besitos. |
More examples
Ya lo veo, ese bostezo tan grande.
I see it now, that big yawn.
Uses 'lo' to anticipate 'bostezo'.
¿La quieres, tu mantita favorita?
Do you want it, your favorite blanket?
Question format using 'la' for 'mantita'.
Las he traído, tus galletas.
I've brought them, your crackers.
Plural feminine agreement.