Italiano — combined pronouns

When an indirect object pronoun meets a direct object pronoun, the two merge into a combined form. Learn the changes and the order in which they appear.

How it works

✓ Rule

When an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun meet, the indirect one comes first, and mi/ti/ci/vi change to me/te/ce/ve. Both gli and le become glie- and join the direct pronoun in a single word: glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele.

Examples

Common combined forms
Combination	Example	Meaning
mi + lo = me lo	Me lo dai?	you give it to me
ti + la = te la	Te la mando.	I send it to you
gli/le + lo = glielo	Glielo dico.	I tell it to him/her

Good to know

⚠ Note

With an infinitive or an affirmative imperative, the combined pronouns attach to the end of the verb as a single word: dammelo, portarglielo.