# le
## English
### Etymology 1

Borrowed from French le (“the”).

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lə/
* This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.
* (especially US) IPA: /leɪ/
* (rare) IPA: /liː/
** Audio (US):(file)
* (emulating Parisian French) IPA: /lø/
* Rhymes: -ə, -eɪ, -iː
* Homophones: luh (with /ə/), lay, lei, ley (with /eɪ/), lea, Lea, Lee, leigh, Leigh, li (with /iː/)

#### Article

le
* (informal, humorous) the
** 1949, Michael Maltese, For Scent-imental Reasons, spoken by Penelope Pussycat:Le mew. Le purr.
** 1996 September 28, Game Freak, Pokémon Blue, Nintendo, level/area: S.S. Anne:Waiter: 'Bonjour! I am le waiter on this ship! [...] Ah! Le strong silent type!'
** 2001 June 24, LaManna, “My Weekend...”, in alt.punk‎ (Usenet):[…] upon arrival, le girlfriend realizes she has left her ID back at my house (a 1 1/2 hour roundtrip on the Metro), […]
** 2002 December 27, Amelia, “Re: Neat things SANTA brought me...”, in alt.fashion‎ (Usenet):And then le boyfriend perks up and names around 8 different brands (Stila, MAC, Becca, Nars etc..) - I was *SO* proud of him!! :)
** 2003 January 10, johnny dupe (quoting nowhere man), “Re: I can walk with jezus...”, in alt.fan.wings‎ (Usenet):That was always OUR song (me and le girlfriend of the time).
** 2012 October 1, Miranda Kenneally, Stealing Parker, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN, page 63:That's when Waitress Seductress Extraordinaire comes back and gets our order. […] "We're sharing an order of à la Appalachia, he says, handing over the menus and turning his focus back to me. Le waitress stomps off. I ask, "Why are they called that?" "Because when they've got the fries stacked up they're higher than a mountain range." I groan and touch my stomach. "You're funny," he says, his eyes twinkling.

##### Usage notes

* Marks the speaker as pretending to be stereotypically French. For additional jocular effect, may be used where neither English nor French would place a definite article.

##### Derived terms

* le sigh

#### See also

* moi
* ze

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old French lez (“side”).

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lə/, /li/, (sometimes) /leɪ/

#### Preposition

le
* (obsolete) Next to, near (still used in some place names).
    Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham near an old Roman road.
    Witton-le-Wear, Dalton-le-Dale, Hetton-le-Hole

### Anagrams

* -el, EL, El, el

## Afar
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈle/ [ˈlɛ]

### Verb

lé
* (transitive) have

#### Derived terms

* -llih
* -lluk

### References

* E. M. Parker, R. J. Hayward (1985) An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN, page 284

## Albanian
### Etymology 1

Jussive particle le (“let”) corresponds with 2nd person/singular Aorist form of Albanian lë (“to let/leave (go/behind)”); le (“you let/left (go/behind)”). From Proto-Albanian *laide (“let”). Identical to Baltic permissive and optative particles Latvian lai (“to let”), Lithuanian laĩ, Old Prussian -lai.
Cognate to Albanian lihem (“to be left; allowed”) (Standard & Tosk), Gheg Albanian lêhem, lêna (passive forms of active lë).

#### Verb

le (aorist láshë, participle lënë)
* second-person singular aorist active indicative of lë
* second-person singular aorist passive indicative of lihem

#### Particle

le (+)
* (jussive) let
    Jussive modal particle used before verbs. A gentle way to express orders, instructions or to ask for approval/permission. Jussive construction:
       1. jussive particle → le (“let”)
       2. + subjunctive particle → të (“it”)
       3. + → subjunctive verb form (present, imperfect, perfect or past perfect). See also (*) for irregular verbs.
    Examples: third-person singular present active jussive of marr:
       le (“let”) + të + marrë (“take”)
       le të marrë ― let it take
    third-person singular present passive jussive of merrem:
       le (“let”) + të + merret (“deal (with)”)
       le të merret ― let it deal (with)
    third-person singular present active jussive of shkoj:
       le (“let”) + të + shkojë (“go”)
       le të shkojë ― let him go
    third-person plural present active jussive of shkoj:
       le (“let”) + të + shkojnë (“go”)
       le të shkojnë ― let them go
    third-person singular present active jussive of flas:
       le (“let”) + të + flasë (“talk; speak”)
       le të flasë ― let him talk
    third-person plural present active jussive of flas:
       le (“let”) + të + flasin (“talk; speak”)
       le të flasin ― let them talk
    (*) Irregular verb:
       indicative/present → subjunctive/present
       është (“is”) → jetë (“be”)
    Example: third-person singular present active jussive of jam:
       le (“let”) + të (“it”) + jetë (“be”)
       le të jetë ― let it be
* (subjunctive) + që (“that”) → subjunctive: not only that; if only; would that
    Le që... ― Not only that...
* (Gheg, subjunctive) → mostly + se (“that”) instead of që (“id”): not only that; if only; would that
    Le se... ― Not only that...

#### See also

* do, do të
* le të, le që, le se
* të, se, që

#### References

* ↑ Orel, Vladimir E. (1998) “le”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden, Boston, Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 215
* ↑ Camarda, Demetrio (1864) Saggio di grammatologia comparata sulla lingua albanese (in Italian), Livorno: Successore di Egisto Vignozzi, page 255
* ↑ Gjergj Pekmezi (1908) Grammar of the Albanian language, transl., Grammatik der albanesischen Sprache (in German), Albanesicher Verein Dija (Albanian Association Dija), Wien - Austria, pages 76-77
* ↑ Ernst Fraenkel (1962) Lithuanian Etymological Dictionary, transl., Litauisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), C. Winter, page 329
* ↑ Çabej, Eqrem (1976) “le”, in Studime Gjuhësore II, Studime Etimologjike në Fushë të Shqipes, Prishtinë: Rilindja, page 3120
* ↑ Mann, Stuart E. (1977) An Albanian Historical Grammar‎, Hamburg: Helmut Buske Verlag, →ISBN, page 137
* ↑ Stuart Edward Mann (1932) A Short Albanian Grammar with Vocabularies, and Selected Passages for Reading, D. Nutt (A.G. Berry), pages 34, 40

#### Further reading

* Oda Buchholz, Wilfried Fiedler, Gerda Uhlisch (2000) Langenscheidt Handwörterbuch Albanisch, Langenscheidt Verlag, →ISBN, page 273 (juss. particle ¹le / ²le (+ që) → subjunc. / verb ³le 2nd p./sg. aor. of lë)
* jussive particle le (engl. let) • Fjalor Shqip (Albanian Dictionary)
* conjugation active verb lë (e kryera e thjeshtë (engl. Aorist): 1st/sg) lashë; (2nd/sg) le; (3rd/sg) la; (1st/pl) lamë; (2nd/pl) latë; (3rd/pl) lanë) • Fjalor Shqip (Albanian Dictionary)

### Etymology 2

From Proto-Albanian *laida, an ostensibly o-grade thematic present from the root *leyd- (“to let go, release”).

#### Verb

le needs inflection
* (dialectal) to give birth, bear
    Synonyms: lej, lind
    lehet ― is born
    u le ― to be born

##### Related terms

* lej, lind

#### References

* Orel, Vladimir E. (1998) “lej”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden, Boston, Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 217
* AIS: Sprach- und Sachatlas Italiens und der Südschweiz [Linguistic and Ethnographic Atlas of Italy and Southern Switzerland] – map 56: “nascere” – on navigais-web.pd.istc.cnr.it

## Aragonese
### Etymology

From Latin ille (“that one”).

### Pronoun

le
* (to) him (indirect object)

#### Synonyms

* li

## Bourguignon
### Alternative forms

* lou

### Etymology

From Latin ille.

### Article

le (alternative form lou, feminine lai, plural les)
* the

## Breton
### Noun

le ? (plural leou)
* vow

## Chinese

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### Etymology

From English lesbian.

### Pronunciation

* This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some! Particularly: “Mandarin”

### Noun

le
* (China, Internet slang) lesbian

## Cornish

From Proto-Brythonic *lleɣ, from Proto-Celtic *legyom. Cognate to Welsh lle and Breton lec'h.

### Noun

le m (plural leow)
* place, location
    Pur vysi yw an le ma der an hav.This place is very busy through the summer.
* space, seat
    Eus le yn an park kerri na?Is there a space in that car park?
    Res yw dhywgh ragerghi le rag an kyttrin leel.You need to book a seat for the local bus.

#### Derived terms

* leel (“local”)
* leelieth (“localism”)
* yn le (“instead of, in place of, in lieu of”)

## Corsican
### Etymology

From Latin illae, feminine plural of ille (“that”), from Old Latin olle. Cognates include Italian le (“the, them”) and French les (“the, them”).

### Article

le
* Archaic form of e.

### Pronoun

le
* Archaic form of e.

#### References

* https://infcor.adecec.net/

## Dalmatian
### Etymology

From Latin illae, nominative feminine plural of ille.

### Article

le f pl
* the

#### Related terms

* el
* la
* i

## Danish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [leˀ]

### Etymology 1

From Old Norse lé (“scythe”), from Proto-Germanic *lewô, cognate with Norwegian ljå and Swedish lie.

#### Noun

le c (singular definite leen, plural indefinite leer)
* scythe (farm tool)

##### Inflection
### Etymology 2

From Old Norse hlæja, from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną, cognate with English laugh and German lachen.

#### Verb

le (imperative le, present ler, past lo, past participle leet or let)
* to laugh (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face and emission of sounds)

##### Conjugation

activepassive
present
ler
les
past
lo
infinitive
le
les
imperative
le
participle
present
leende
past
leet or let (auxiliary verb have)
gerund
leen :

### See also

* le on the Danish Wikipedia.Wikipedia $^{da}$
* Le (flertydig) on the Danish Wikipedia.Wikipedia $^{da}$

## Fala
### Etymology

From Latin illī.

### Pronoun

le
* Third person dative pronoun; to him, to her, to it, to them

#### Usage notes

* Takes the form -li when suffixed to an impersonal verb form.

#### See also

Dialects:  $^L$ Lagarteiru   $^M$ Mañegu   $^V$ Valverdeñu

### References

* Valeš, Miroslav (2021) Diccionariu de A Fala: lagarteiru, mañegu, valverdeñu (web)‎, 2nd edition, Minde, Portugal: CIDLeS, published 2022, →ISBN

## Franco-Provençal
### Determiner

le (ORB, broad)
* Alternative form of lo

### Pronoun

le (ORB, broad)
* Alternative form of lo

### References

* le [1] in DicoFranPro: Dictionnaire Français/Francoprovençal – on dicofranpro.llm.umontreal.ca
* le in Lo trèsor Arpitan – on arpitan.eu

## French
### Etymology

From Middle French le, from Old French le, from Latin illum, by dropping il- and -m. Latin illum is the accusative singular of ille.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lə/
* (before a word starting with a vowel) IPA: /l‿/
** Audio:(file)
* (Paris) IPA: /lø/
* (Louisiana) IPA: /l(ə)/
* Rhymes: -ə

### Article

le m (feminine la, masculine and feminine plural les, prevocalic masculine or feminine singular l’)
* the (definite article)
    Le lait du matin. ― The milk of the morning.
* Used before abstract nouns; not translated in English.
    L’amour est aveugle.Love is blind.
* Used before the names of most countries, many subnational regions, and other geographical names including names of lakes and streets; not translated into English in most cases.
    Je vais visiter le Canada l’année prochaine, surtout l’Ontario et le Québec.I will be visiting Canada next year, especially Ontario and Quebec.
    La place Rouge se trouve au cœur de Moscou.Red Square is located in the heart of Moscow.
* (before parts of the body) the; my, your, etc.
    Il s’est cassé la jambe. ― He has broken his leg.
* (before units) a, an, per
    cinquante kilomètres à l’heure ― fifty kilometres an hour
    trois dollars le morceau ― three dollars per piece
* (before dates) on
    Je suis née le 1er juillet 1967. ― I was born on July 1, 1967.

#### Usage notes

* le becomes l’ before a vowel or an unaspirated h.
    l’amour ― love
    l’endroit ― the place
    l’homme ― the man
* When the article le is preceded by the prepositions de or à, *de le or *à le is not used (except dialectally); instead, it is contracted into du or au, respectively. Likewise, *de les and *à les are replaced by des and aux (except dialectally). However, la may be preceded by de and à.
    Il a une cicatrice au visage. ― He has a scar on the face. / He has a scar on his face.
* *de le and *à le become de l' and à l' respectively in front of a vowel or an unaspirated h.

### Pronoun

le m (feminine la, masculine and feminine plural les)
* (direct object) him, it
    Où est Malik ? Je ne le vois pas.Where is Malik? I don't see him.
    Mon sac ? Je vais le mettre dans la voiture.My bag? I'm going to put it in the car.
* used to refer to something previously mentioned or implied; not translated in English
    Je suis petit et lui, il l’est aussi. ― I am small and he is too (literally, “... and he is it too”)

#### Usage notes

* Unlike the definite article le, the pronouns le and les may be preceded by the prepositions de and à: Je cherchais à le voir. ― I was trying to see him.

#### Derived terms

* à le
* de le

#### Related terms

$^1$ On can also function as a first person plural (although agreeing with third person singular verb forms). $^2$ Vous is also used as the polite singular form. $^3$ Ils and eux are also used when a group has a mixture of masculine and feminine members. $^4$ These forms are also used as third person plural reflexive.

### References

* ↑ Dauzat, Albert with Jean Dubois, Henri Mitterand (1964) “le, la, les”, in Nouveau dictionnaire étymologique (in French), Paris: Librairie Larousse

### Further reading

* “le”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

## Friulian
### Pronoun

le (third person feminine direct object)
* her

#### Related terms

* jê
* i

## Fula
### Particle

le
* (Pular, Maasina) as for, truly
    aan le?and as for you? (Maasina)
    O yahii le!He really left! (Pular)

### References

* Oumar Bah, Dictionnaire Pular-Français, Avec un index français-pular, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2014.
* Richard Smith, Urs Niggli, Dictionnaire fulfulde - anglais - français, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2016.

## Galician
### Verb

le
* inflection of ler:
** third-person singular present indicative
** second-person singular imperative

## Garifuna
### Article

le
* masculine definite article
    Mutu le ― The man

#### Antonyms

* to

## Hungarian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈlɛ]
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -lɛ

### Adverb

le (comparative lejjebb)
* down

#### Usage notes

This term may also be part of the split form of a verb prefixed with le-, occurring when the main verb does not follow the prefix directly. It can be interpreted only with the related verb form, irrespective of its position in the sentence, e.g. meg tudták volna nézni (“they could have seen it”, from megnéz). For verbs with this prefix, see le-; for an overview, Appendix:Hungarian verbal prefixes.

### Further reading

* le in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

### Anagrams

* el

## Ido
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/, /lɛ/

### Etymology 1

Borrowed from Italian le.

#### Article

le (plural)
* the (used only when there is no other sign of plurality, for example with nominalized adjectives)
    Yen pomi, prenez le bona e lasez le mala.Here's apples, take the good ones and leave the bad ones.

##### See also

* la

### Etymology 2

From l +‎ -e.

#### Noun

le (plural le-i)
* The name of the Latin script letter L/l.

##### See also

* Latin script letter names: literi: a · be · ce · che · de · e · fe · ge · he · i · je · ke · le · me · ne · o · pe · que · re · se · she · te · u · ve · we · xe · ye · ze

## Interlingua
### Article

le
* the

#### Usage notes

* de le is contracted into del.
* a le is contracted into al.

### Pronoun

le m (plural les)
* him (direct object)
    Io le appella mi amico. ― I call him my friend.

## Irish
### Alternative forms

* lé (superseded)

### Etymology

From a conflation of two Early Modern Irish prepositions:
* re (“to”), from Classical Gaelic re, from Middle Irish ri, fri, from Old Irish fri, from Proto-Celtic *writ- (compare Welsh wrth, prefix gwrth-), from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn”) (compare Latin versus (“against”)).
* le (“with”), from Old Irish la, from Proto-Celtic *let-, from Proto-Celtic *letos (“side”) (compare leath, Welsh lled).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lʲɛ/

### Preposition

le (plus dative, triggers h-prothesis, before the definite article leis)
* with
    le héadach ― with clothing
* used in conjunction with the copula particle is and a noun to indicate possession
    Is liomsa an hata.The hat is mine; the hat belongs to me.
    Is le Cáit an peann luaidhe.The pencil is Cáit’s; the pencil belongs to Cáit.
* (in conjunction with the copula particle is and an adjective) in the opinion of, in the consideration of
    Is beag liom an cheist.The issue is unimportant to me/in my opinion.
* to (indicating purpose; in this sense triggering eclipsis of vowel-initial verbal nouns)
    rud le n-ithe ― something to eat
    oiriúnach le n-ól ― fit to drink
    ró-the le n-ól ― too hot to drink
    Cé mhéad atá le n-íoc?How much does it cost?(literally, “How much is to pay?”)
* to (after a verb of speaking)
* in order to
    Synonyms: chun, d'fhonn
    le rud a dhéanamh ― in order to do a thing

#### Quotations

* Níl sé ina lá (Irish traditional song):
    Is é dúirt sí liom “ní bhfaighidh tú deor. Buail an bóthar is gabh abhaile.”And what she said to me was, “you won’t get a drop. Hit the road and go home.”

#### Derived terms

* abair le
* ar olca le
* dar le
* i dtaca le
* i mborr le
* in éineacht le
* le chéile
* le thine
* maidir le

#### See also

| Basic form | Contracted with | Contracted with | Contracted with | Contracted with | Contracted with | Contracted with | Contracted with | Copular forms | Copular forms | Copular forms |
| Basic form | an (“the sg”) | na (“the pl”) | mo (“my”) | do (“your”) | a (“his, her, their; which (present)”) | ár (“our”) | ar (“which (past)”) | (before consonant) | (present/future before vowel) | (past/conditional before vowel) |
| de (“from”) | den | de na desna* | de mo dem* | de do ded*, det* | dá | dár | dár | dar | darb | darbh |
| do (“to, for”) | don | do na dosna* | do mo dom* | do do dod*, dot* | dá | dár | dár | dar | darb | darbh |
| faoi (“under, about”) | faoin | faoi na | faoi mo | faoi do | faoina | faoinár | faoinar | faoinar | faoinarb | faoinarbh |
| i (“in”) | sa, san | sna | i mo im* | i do id*, it* | ina | inár | inar | inar | inarb | inarbh |
| le (“with”) | leis an | leis na | le mo lem* | le do led*, let* | lena | lenár | lenar | lenar | lenarb | lenarbh |
| ó (“from, since”) | ón | ó na ósna* | ó mo óm* | ó do ód*, ót* | óna | ónár | ónar | ónar | ónarb | ónarbh |
| trí (“through”) | tríd an | trí na | trí mo | trí do | trína | trínár | trínar | trínar | trínarb | trínarbh |
| *Dialectal. |||||||||||

### Further reading

* Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “le”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
* Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “fri”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
* Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “la”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
* “le”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2025

## Italian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/
* Rhymes: -e
* Hyphenation: le

### Etymology 1

From Latin illas, which is the accusative plural feminine of ille. Cognate with Sicilian li~i.

#### Article

le f pl (singular la)
* the

##### Usage notes

* Contrary to la, le does not elide before words that begin with a vowel:
    le amiche ― (the female) friends

##### Inflection
#### Pronoun

le f pl (masculine li, singular la)
* (accusative) them (third-person plural feminine)
    Le ho viste. ― I saw them.

##### Usage notes

* Never elides.
* Becomes glie when followed by a third person direct object clitic (lo, la, li, le, or ne).

##### Alternative forms

* -le (enclitic)

##### See also

| Number | Person | Gender | Nominative | Reflexive | Accusative | Dative | Combined | Disjunctive | Locative | Partitive |
| Singular | first | — | io | mi, m', -mi | mi, m', -mi | mi, m', -mi | me | me | — | — |
| Singular | second | — | tu | ti, t', -ti | ti, t', -ti | ti, t', -ti | te | te | — | — |
| Singular | third | m | lui | si$^2$, s', -si | lo, l', -lo | gli, -gli | glie, se$^2$ | lui, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| Singular | third | f | lei, Lei$^1$ | si$^2$, s', -si | la, La$^1$, l', L'$^1$, -la, -La$^1$ | le$^3$, Le$^1$, -le$^3$, -Le$^1$ | glie, se$^2$ | lei, Lei$^1$, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| Plural | first | — | noi | ci, c', -ci | ci, c', -ci | ci, c', -ci | ce | noi | — | — |
| Plural | second | — | voi, Voi$^4$ | vi, Vi$^4$, v', V'$^4$, -vi, -Vi$^4$ | vi, Vi$^4$, v', V'$^4$, -vi, -Vi$^4$ | vi, Vi$^4$, v', V'$^4$, -vi, -Vi$^4$ | ve | voi, Voi$^4$ | — | — |
| Plural | third | m | loro, Loro$^1$ | si, s', -si | li, Li$^1$, -li, -Li$^1$ | gli, -gli, loro (formal), Loro$^1$ | glie, se | loro, Loro$^1$, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| Plural | third | f | loro, Loro$^1$ | si, s', -si | le, Le$^1$, -le, -Le$^1$ | gli, -gli, loro (formal), Loro$^1$ | glie, se | loro, Loro$^1$, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| $^1$ | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. |
| $^2$ | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. |
| $^3$ | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. |
| $^4$ | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). |

### Etymology 2

From Vulgar Latin *illae, a nonstandard form of Latin illī (dative singular of illa). The ae in illae is modelled under influence of the dative case for first-declension feminine nouns, e.g. Classical Latin puellae. Cognate with Sicilian ci.

#### Pronoun

le f (plural gli)
* (dative) her, to her
    Synonym: (informal) gli
    Le ho detto che la amo. ― I told her that I love her.
    Le ho dato la lettera. ― I gave her the letter.
* (dative) you, to you (term of respect)
    Non le ho detto il mio nome. ― I didn't tell you my name.
    Le ho dato la lettera. ― I gave you the letter.

##### Usage notes

* In formal writing, when le is used as term of respect it is usually capitalised/capitalized as Le to avoid confusion with le (“her”).
* In informal contexts often replaced with gli, especially in spoken language.
* Becomes glie when followed by a third person direct object clitic (lo, la, li, le, or ne).
* Never elides.

##### Alternative forms

* Le

##### See also

| Number | Person | Gender | Nominative | Reflexive | Accusative | Dative | Combined | Disjunctive | Locative | Partitive |
| Singular | first | — | io | mi, m', -mi | mi, m', -mi | mi, m', -mi | me | me | — | — |
| Singular | second | — | tu | ti, t', -ti | ti, t', -ti | ti, t', -ti | te | te | — | — |
| Singular | third | m | lui | si$^2$, s', -si | lo, l', -lo | gli, -gli | glie, se$^2$ | lui, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| Singular | third | f | lei, Lei$^1$ | si$^2$, s', -si | la, La$^1$, l', L'$^1$, -la, -La$^1$ | le$^3$, Le$^1$, -le$^3$, -Le$^1$ | glie, se$^2$ | lei, Lei$^1$, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| Plural | first | — | noi | ci, c', -ci | ci, c', -ci | ci, c', -ci | ce | noi | — | — |
| Plural | second | — | voi, Voi$^4$ | vi, Vi$^4$, v', V'$^4$, -vi, -Vi$^4$ | vi, Vi$^4$, v', V'$^4$, -vi, -Vi$^4$ | vi, Vi$^4$, v', V'$^4$, -vi, -Vi$^4$ | ve | voi, Voi$^4$ | — | — |
| Plural | third | m | loro, Loro$^1$ | si, s', -si | li, Li$^1$, -li, -Li$^1$ | gli, -gli, loro (formal), Loro$^1$ | glie, se | loro, Loro$^1$, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| Plural | third | f | loro, Loro$^1$ | si, s', -si | le, Le$^1$, -le, -Le$^1$ | gli, -gli, loro (formal), Loro$^1$ | glie, se | loro, Loro$^1$, sé | ci, c', vi, v' (formal) | ne, n' |
| $^1$ | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. | Third person pronominal forms used as formal terms of address to refer to second person subjects (with the first letter frequently capitalised as a sign of respect, and to distinguish them from third person subjects). Unlike the singular forms, the plural forms are mostly antiquated terms of formal address in the modern language, and second person plural pronouns are almost always used instead. |
| $^2$ | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. | Also used as indefinite pronoun meaning “one”, and to form the passive. |
| $^3$ | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. | Often replaced by gli, -gli in informal language. |
| $^4$ | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). | Formal (capitalisation optional); in many regions, can refer to just one person (compare with French vous). |

### References

* ↑ Patota, Giuseppe (2002) Lineamenti di grammatica storica dell'italiano (in Italian), Bologna: il Mulino, →ISBN, page 127

### Anagrams

* el

## Japanese
### Romanization

le
* Rōmaji transcription of れ゚
* Rōmaji transcription of レ゚

## Ladino
### Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish le, from Latin illī, dative of ille.

### Pronoun

le m or f by sense (Hebrew spelling לי)
* (to) him, (for) him; dative of el
** 2007, Hernán Rodriguez Fisse, “Alkunya Rodrik o Rodriguez”, in El Amaneser, section 27:En 1923, se modernizo la identidad de las personas, pero a unos ermanos de mi Papu le metieron en el nufus la alkunya Rodrik, i a la otra mitad de la famiya, la alkunya Rodriges.People’s identities were modernised in 1923, but like some of my grandfather’s brothers they put him on the Rodrik surname identity card, and as for my family’s other half, the surname Rodriges.
* (to) her, (for) her; dative of eya
* (to) it, (for) it; dative of eyo

### References

* ↑ “le”, in Trezoro de la Lengua Djudeoespanyola.

## Maltese
### Etymology

From Arabic لَا (lā). Cognate with Hebrew לא (lō).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lɛː/

### Adverb

le
* no
    Synonym: leqq (colloquial)

#### Related terms

* bla
* la

### See also

* forsi (“maybe”)
* iva (“yes”)

## Mandarin
### Romanization

le (le$^5$ / le$^0$, Zhuyin ˙ㄌㄜ)
* Hanyu Pinyin reading of 了
* Hanyu Pinyin reading of 餎 / 饹
le
* Nonstandard spelling of lē.
* Nonstandard spelling of lè.

#### Usage notes

* Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

## Mauritian Creole
### Etymology

From French le.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lø, le/

### Article

le
* (definite) the

## Meriam
### Etymology

From Rotuman.

### Noun

le
* person

## Middle French
### Etymology

From Old French le, from Latin illum.

### Article

le m (feminine la, masculine and feminine plural les)
* the

#### Descendants

* French: le

## Neapolitan
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/
* Rhymes: -e

### Pronoun

le
* Alternative form of 'e

#### Coordinate terms
## Norwegian Bokmål
### Etymology 1

From Old Norse hlé.

#### Adjective

le (indeclinable)
* lee or leeward (side)

#### Noun

le n
* lee (sheltered or leeward side)
* shelter

### Etymology 2

From Old Norse hlæja (“to laugh”), from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *klek-, *kleg- (“to shout”).

#### Verb

le (imperative le, present tense ler, passive -, simple past lo, past participle ledd, present participle leende)
* to laugh

### References

* “le” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /leː/

### Etymology 1

From Old Norse hlæja (“to laugh”), from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną, from the Proto-Indo-European root *klel-, *kleg- (“to shout”). Akin to English laugh.

#### Alternative forms

* læ, læja (archaic or obsolete)

#### Verb

le (present tense ler, past tense lo, supine ledd or lett, past participle ledd, present participle leande, imperative le)
* (intransitive) to laugh

##### Derived terms

* dumle
* forle
* gaple
* hegrele
* hånle
* skamle
* småle
* storle

##### Related terms

* latter
* løye
* lått

### Etymology 2

From Old Norse hlé. Akin to English lee.

#### Noun

le n (definite singular leet, indefinite plural le, definite plural lea)
* lee (sheltered or leeward side)
* shelter

#### Adjective

le (indeclinable)
* lee or leeward (side)

### Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

#### Verb

le
* imperative of lea

### References

* 1 2 “le” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
* ↑ Ivar Aasen (1850) “læ”, in Ordbog over det norske Folkesprog‎ (in Danish), Oslo: Samlaget, published 2000
* ↑ Ivar Aasen (1850) “læja”, in Ordbog over det norske Folkesprog‎ (in Danish), Oslo: Samlaget, published 2000

### Anagrams

* el

## Old French
### Alternative forms

* lo (9th century in The Sequence of Saint Eulalia and 10th century in La Vie de Saint Léger)

### Etymology

From Latin illum.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lə/

### Article

le
* the (masculine singular oblique definite article)
* (Picardy, Anglo-Norman) the (feminine singular definite article)

#### Usage notes

When coming after en, the two words combine into el.

#### Inflection

$^1$ These singular forms elide to l' before a vowel or non-aspirate h.

### Pronoun

le
* it (masculine singular object pronoun)

#### Descendants

* Middle French: le
** French: le

### Anagrams

* el

## Old Polish
### Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *le.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: (10th–15th CE) /lʲɛ/
* IPA: (15th CE) /lʲɛ/

### Conjunction

le
* but
** 1874-1891 [15th century], Rozprawy i Sprawozdania z Posiedzeń Wydziału Filologicznego Akademii Umiejętności‎, volume XXII, page 60:*Nyą raczy mą zapomneczi, le mą raczy szobe przypyszaczy[Nie raczy mię zapomnieci, le mię raczy sobie przypisaci]
* only
** 1874-1891 [Middle of the 15th century], Rozprawy i Sprawozdania z Posiedzeń Wydziału Filologicznego Akademii Umiejętności‎, volume XXII, page 235:Bo yako gymyenya wyeloscz a czczi tego swyata nabiczye cziny ludzi nadąte a pischne, tako potąpyenye a vbostwo, le skromne, czini vbogye duchem[Bo jako jimienia wielość a czci tego świata nabycie czyni ludzi nadęte a pyszne, tako potępienie a ubostwo, le skromne, czyni ubogie duchem]
* that is, namely
** Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎, page 546:Gorze temv, lye duschy y czyalv ktorego..., yen nye zdradzyl[Gorze temu, le duszy i ciału [ktorego] [tego]..., jen mnie zdradził]
** Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎, page 599:Iesus... dluzey począl szye modlycz, lye przeto dluzey szye modly, yze blyzey ku smyerczy ydzye[Jesus... dłużej począł sie modlić, le przeto dłużej sie modli, iże bliżej ku śmierci idzie]

#### Related terms

* ale

#### Descendants

* Middle Polish: le

### References

* B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “le”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN

## Phalura
### Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le, ɽe/

#### Determiner

le (demonstrative, Perso-Arabic spelling لےۡ)
* that, this (agr: dist fem / dist non-nom masc)

#### References

* Henrik Liljegren, Naseem Haider (2011) “le”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎, Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

### Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le, ɽe/

#### Determiner

le (demonstrative, Perso-Arabic spelling لےۡ)
* those, these (agr: dist)

#### References

* Henrik Liljegren, Naseem Haider (2011) “le”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎, Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

### Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le, ɽe/

#### Pronoun

le (demonstrative, Perso-Arabic spelling لےۡ)
* that one
* it
* she (dist fem nom)

#### References

* Henrik Liljegren, Naseem Haider (2011) “le”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎, Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

### Etymology 4

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le, ɽe/

#### Pronoun

le (demonstrative, Perso-Arabic spelling لےۡ)
* those ones
* these ones
* they (dist nom)

#### References

* Henrik Liljegren, Naseem Haider (2011) “le”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎, Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

## Pnar
### Etymology

From Proto-Khasian *laːj. Cognate with Khasi lai. Compare Proto-Palaungic *ləʔɔːj (whence Blang [La Gang] lɔ́j) and Car Nicobarese lōe.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/

### Numeral

le
* (cardinal number) three

## Romanian
### Etymology

From Latin illīs, dative common plural of ille.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -e

### Pronoun

le m (unstressed dative form of ei)
* (indirect object, third-person masculine plural) to them (all-male or mixed group)

### Pronoun

le f (unstressed dative form of ele)
* (indirect object, third-person feminine plural) to them (all-female group)

### Pronoun

le m (unstressed accusative form of ele)
* (direct object, third-person feminine plural) them (all-female group)

### Related terms

* lor (stressed dative of ei and ele)
* ele (stressed accusative of ele)
* îl (unstressed dative of el (singular))
* îi (unstressed dative of ea (singular) and unstressed accusative of ei (masculine))
* o (unstressed accusative of ea (singular))

## Samoan
### Article

le
* the (the definite article)

#### Usage notes

Only in the singular. Sometimes used where the indefinite article would be used in English.

#### See also

* se

## Scottish Gaelic
### Etymology

From Old Irish la. Cognates include Irish le and Manx lesh.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/
* Hyphenation: le

### Preposition

le (+ dative, no mutation, before the definite article leis)
* with
* by
* down
    Thuit e leis a' chreig. ― He fell down the rock.
    deòir a' ruith leis a h-aodann ― tears running down her face

#### Usage notes

* When referring to being with people, còmhla ri is preferred to le by many speakers.

#### Inflection

$^L$ Triggers lenition; $^H$ Triggers H-prothesis; $^N$ Triggers eclipsis; $^{1)}$ Used before b-, f-, m- or p-

## Serbo-Croatian
### Adverb

le (Cyrillic spelling ле)
* (archaic) only
** 1556, Hanibal Lucić, U vrime ko čisto:Nego se varteći dugo tuj zamani, Goro, le htih reći, zbogome ostani.(please add an English translation of this quotation)

#### Related terms

* samo, tek

## Slovene
### Etymology

Possibly related to Slovak len and Pannonian Rusyn лєм (ljem). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lɛ́/

### Adverb

lȅ
* only, merely, just
** 2024, Raiven (lyrics and music), “Veronika”:Tvojo resnico le ona ve.Only she knows your truth.

### Further reading

* “le”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU (in Slovene), 2014–2025

## Southern Ndebele
### Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronoun

le
* these; class 4 proximal demonstrative.

### Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronoun

le
* this; class 9 proximal demonstrative.

## Spanish
### Etymology

From Latin illī, dative of ille.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /le/ [le]
* Audio (Colombia):(file)
* Rhymes: -e
* Syllabification: le

### Pronoun

le m or f by sense
* to him, for him; dative of él
    Mi mamá va a escribirle una carta.My mom is going to write him a letter.
* to her, for her; dative of ella
    Le dio un beso a Ana.He gave Ana a kiss.
* to it, for it; dative of ello
    ¡Ponle esfuerzo!Put some effort into it!
* to you, for you (formal); dative of usted
    ¿A usted le gustan los caballos?Do you like horses?
* (leísmo, dialectal) you (formal); accusative of usted
    Synonyms: lo, la
    Ana, ¿necesita que le ayude en algo?Ana, do you need me to help you with anything?
* (leísmo, dialectal) him; accusative of él
    Synonym: lo
    Él es mi amigo, le conozco desde pequeño.He is my friend, I know him since he was little.
* (leísmo, dialectal, proscribed except in impersonal sentences with "se") it; accusative of ello
    Synonym: (when proscribed) lo
    Se le conoce como la ciudad que nunca duerme. [non-proscribed]They know it as the City That Never Sleeps.
    ¿Te gusta mi auto? Le compré con mis ahorros. [proscribed]Do you like my car? I bought it with my savings.
* (leísmo, dialectal, proscribed except in impersonal sentences with "se") her; accusative of ella
    Synonym: (when proscribed) la
    Se le conoce como la Reina del Pop. [non-proscribed]They know her as the Queen of Pop.
    Ayer le vi cenando en un restaurante. [proscribed]Yesterday I saw her dining at a restaurant.

#### Usage notes

* Though le is usually the indirect object form of the direct object pronouns lo/la, it is often used in Spain as a direct object as well...e.g., yo le amo (“I love him”). This phenomenon is known as leísmo.
* Note that when a sentence contains a noun that is an indirect object, a redundant indirect object le (or its plural form les) is also required; for example yo le daré el libro a Jorge (literally “I will give him the book to Jorge”), where him/le corresponds to Jorge. This type of pronoun is obligatory. Both of the object pronouns le and les become se when followed by the direct object lo/la/los/las; hence, yo se lo daré (“I will give it to him/her/them”) rather than *yo le/les lo daré.

### Pronoun

le gender-neutral
* (gender-neutral, neologism) to them, for them (singular); dative of elle
    Le diré que te llame.I will tell them to call you.

### See also

| | | | | nominative | dative | accusative | disjunctive |
| first person | singular | singular | singular | yo | me | me | mí$^1$ |
| first person | plural | masculine$^2$ | masculine$^2$ | nosotros | nos | nos | nosotros |
| first person | plural | feminine | feminine | nosotras | nos | nos | nosotras |
| second person | singular | tuteo | tuteo | tú | te | te | ti$^1$ |
| second person | singular | voseo | voseo | vos | te | te | vos |
| second person | singular | formal$^3$ | formal$^3$ | usted | le, se$^4$ | lo/la$^5$ | usted |
| second person | plural | familiar$^6$ | masculine$^2$ | vosotros | os | os | vosotros |
| second person | plural | familiar$^6$ | feminine | vosotras | os | os | vosotras |
| second person | plural | formal/general$^3$ | formal/general$^3$ | ustedes | les, se$^4$ | los/las$^5$ | ustedes |
| third person | singular | masculine$^2$ | masculine$^2$ | él | le, se$^4$ | lo | él |
| third person | singular | feminine | feminine | ella | le, se$^4$ | la | ella |
| third person | singular | neuter | neuter | ello$^7$ | le, se$^4$ | lo | ello |
| third person | plural | masculine$^2$ | masculine$^2$ | ellos | les, se$^4$ | los | ellos |
| third person | plural | feminine | feminine | ellas | les, se$^4$ | las | ellas |
| third person | reflexive | reflexive | reflexive | — | se | se | sí$^1$ |
* Not used with con; conmigo, contigo, and consigo are used instead, respectively
* Like other masculine Spanish words, masculine Spanish pronouns can be used when the gender of the subject is unknown or when the subject is plural and of mixed gender.
* Treated as if it were third-person for purposes of conjugation and reflexivity
* If le or les precedes lo, la, los, or las in a clause, it is replaced with se (e.g., Se lo dije instead of Le lo dije)
* Depending on the implicit gender of the object being referred to
* Used primarily in Spain
* Used only in rare circumstances

### Further reading

* “le”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10
* “leísmo”, in Diccionario panhispánico de dudas [Panhispanic Dictionary of Doubts] (in Spanish), 2nd edition, Royal Spanish Academy; Association of Academies of the Spanish Language, 2023, →ISBN

## Swahili
### Pronunciation

* Audio (Kenya):(file)

### Adjective

-le (declinable)
* that (distal demonstrative adjective)

#### See also

* hii
* hiyo

## Swedish
### Etymology

From Old Swedish lēia, lea, from Old Norse hlæja (“to laugh”), from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /leː/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -eː

### Verb

le (present ler, preterite log, supine lett, imperative le)
* to smile
    Hon log brettShe smiled broadly
* (obsolete) to laugh
    Synonym: skratta

#### Conjugation

$^1$ Archaic. $^2$ Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

#### Derived terms

* småle

#### Related terms

* leende
* löje

#### See also

* dra på smilbanden
* smila

### References

* le in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* le in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

### Anagrams

* e.l., el, el.

## Tarantino
### Alternative forms

* l'

### Article

le m pl or f pl
* the

## Turkish
### Noun

le
* The name of the Latin-script letter L/l.

#### See also

* (Latin-script letter names) harf; a, be, ce, çe, de, e, fe, ge, yumuşak ge, he, ı, i, je, ke, le, me, ne, o, ö, pe, re, se, şe, te, u, ü, ve, ye, ze

## Vietnamese
### Pronunciation

* (Hà Nội) IPA: [lɛ˧˧]
* (Huế) IPA: [lɛ˧˧]
* (Saigon) IPA: [lɛ˧˧]

### Etymology 1

From Proto-Vietic *k-lɛː (“bamboo”). Doublet of tre.

#### Noun

(classifier cây) le
* a plant in the rice family, which grows in forests and has a shape similar to bamboo

### Etymology 2
#### Noun

(classifier con) le • (𪅆) (phonemic reduplicative le le)
* (obsolete) lesser whistling duck
** Nam Giao cổ kim lý hạng ca dao chú giải 南交古金里巷歌謠註解 ("Old and new folk-ballads from the hamlets and alleys in Nanjiao, annotated and explained"), 151a
    𡥵𪅆奴𣵰𡥵𪂮奴𱝩Con le nó lặn; con cò nó bay.The lesser whistling duck dives; the stork flies.

##### Derived terms

* le nâu

### Etymology 3
#### Verb

le
* (Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of lè (“to loll (tongue); to put out”)

### Etymology 4
#### Adverb

le
* (rare) Alternative form of lè (“very”)

### Etymology 5
#### Conjunction

le
* (archaic) but; however

##### Derived terms

* song le

## Welsh
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /leː/
* Rhymes: -eː

### Noun

le
* Soft mutation of lle.

### Adverb

le
* (South Wales, colloquial) where
    Le ma'r tŷ bach?Where's the loo?

#### Synonyms

* ble
* (North Wales, colloquial) lle

### Mutation

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh. All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

## Xhosa
### Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [lé]

#### Pronoun

lé
* these; class 4 proximal demonstrative.

### Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronunciation

* IPA: [lé]

#### Pronoun

lé
* this; class 9 proximal demonstrative.

## Yoruba
### Pronunciation

* (low-tone): IPA: /lè/
* (mid-tone): IPA: /lē/
* (high-tone): IPA: /lé/

### Etymology 1
#### Verb

lè
* (auxiliary, defective) to be able, can, to be possible
    Ó lè gbọ́ Yorùbá. ― She can understand Yoruba.

##### Derived terms

* ìlè (“ability”)

### Etymology 2
#### Verb

le
* to be hard in texture, to be difficult
    Iṣẹ́ náà le bí ojú ẹja. ― The work is as hard as a fish's eye.
* (idiomatic) to be healthy, to be in good health
    Synonym: yá
    ṣe ará le o? ― Are you in good health?

##### Synonyms

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - le (“to be difficult, hard”) :
| view map; ||||||
| Language Family | Variety Group | Variety/Language | Subdialect | Location | Words |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Eastern Àkókó | Ọ̀bà | Ọ̀bà Àkókó | ni, le |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Ìjẹ̀bú | Ìjẹ̀bú | Ìjẹ̀bú Òde | ni |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Ìjẹ̀bú | Rẹ́mọ | Ẹ̀pẹ́ | ni |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Ìjẹ̀bú | Rẹ́mọ | Ìkòròdú | ni |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Ìjẹ̀bú | Rẹ́mọ | Ṣágámù | ni |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Ìkálẹ̀ (Ùkálẹ̀) | Ìkálẹ̀ (Ùkálẹ̀) | Òkìtìpupa | ni, le |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Oǹdó | Oǹdó | Oǹdó | ni |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Usẹn | Usẹn | Usẹn | le |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Ìtsẹkírì | Ìtsẹkírì | Ìtsẹkírì | Ìwẹrẹ | ni |
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Olùkùmi | Olùkùmi | Olùkùmi | Ugbódù | ni |
| Proto-Yoruba | Central Yoruba | Èkìtì | Èkìtì | Àdó Èkìtì | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Central Yoruba | Èkìtì | Èkìtì | Òdè Èkìtì | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Central Yoruba | Èkìtì | Èkìtì | Ìfàkì Èkìtì | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Central Yoruba | Èkìtì | Àkúrẹ́ | Àkúrẹ́ | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Àwórì | Àwórì | Èbúté Mẹ́tà | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Èkó | Èkó | Èkó | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Ìbàdàn | Ìbàdàn | Ìbàdàn | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Ìbàràpá | Ìbàràpá | Igbó Òrà | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Ìbọ̀lọ́ | Ìbọ̀lọ́ | Òṣogbo (Òsogbo) | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Ìlọrin | Ìlọrin | Ìlọrin | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Òtù | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Ìwéré Ilé | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Òkèhò | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Ìsẹ́yìn | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Ṣakí | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Tedé | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Oǹkó | Oǹkó | Ìgbẹ́tì | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Ọ̀yọ́ | Ọ̀yọ́ | Ọ̀yọ́ | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Standard Yorùbá | Standard Yorùbá | Nàìjíríà | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northwest Yoruba | Standard Yorùbá | Standard Yorùbá | Bɛ̀nɛ̀ | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Northeast Yoruba/Okun | Owé | Owé | Kabba | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Ede Languages/Southwest Yoruba | Ifɛ̀ | Ifɛ̀ | Akpáré | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Ede Languages/Southwest Yoruba | Ifɛ̀ | Ifɛ̀ | Atakpamɛ | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Ede Languages/Southwest Yoruba | Ifɛ̀ | Ifɛ̀ | Est-Mono | le |
| Proto-Yoruba | Ede Languages/Southwest Yoruba | Ifɛ̀ | Ifɛ̀ | Tchetti (Tsɛti, Cɛti) | le |
| Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties, now deemed dialects of Yorùbá in Nigeria (i.e. Southeast Yorùbá, Northwest Yorùbá, Central Yorùbá, and Northeast Yorùbá), have converged with those of Standard Yorùbá leading to the creation of what can be labeled Common Yorùbá (Funṣọ Akere, 1977). It can be assumed that the Standard Yorùbá term can also be used in most Nigerian varieties alongside native terms, especially amongst younger speakers. This does not apply to the other Nigerian Yoruboid languages of Ìṣẹkírì and Olùkùmi, nor the Èdè Languages of Benin and Togo. ||||||

##### Derived terms

* eré-ìmárale (“exercise”)
* kára ó le (“A Yoruba greeting meaning, may you always be in good health!”)
* líle (“to be hard”)

### Etymology 3
#### Verb

le
* to have a strong taste
    Ọtí yìí le. ― This beer is strong.

##### Derived terms

* ale
* lekó

### Etymology 4
#### Verb

le
* to have an erection (of the penis)

##### Derived terms

* ìle (“erection”)

### Etymology 5
#### Verb

lé
* (transitive) to exceed in number
* to yield interest

##### Derived terms

* èlé (“interest”)

### Etymology 6
#### Verb

lé
* (intransitive) to appear distinctly

##### Derived terms

* Alébíoṣù (“A Yoruba nickname meaning, "One that appears very distinctly like the moon."”)
* léfòó

### Etymology 7
#### Preposition

lé
* on, on top of, after
    Wọ́n bí Àlàbá lé Ìdòwú. ― Alaba was born right after Idowu.

##### Usage notes

When a word is homophonous with the verb 'lé'; it always occurs in a non-V1 position.

##### Derived terms

* gbẹ́kẹ̀lé (“to trust”)

### Etymology 8
#### Verb

lé
* (transitive) to pursue, to chase
    Wọ́n lé e nílèékulèé, òun náà sàsàákúsàá. ― They pursued him relentlessly, and he also ran relentlessly.

##### Derived terms

* ìlé

### Etymology 9
#### Verb

lé
* (transitive) to become swollen
    Synonyms: ré, wú

##### Derived terms

* ìlé

## Zou
### Conjunction

le
* and

#### References

* http://www.languageinindia.com/feb2013/zouphonologyfinal.pdf

## Zulu
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈlé/

### Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronoun

le
* these; class 4 proximal demonstrative.

##### Inflection
### Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Pronoun

le
* this; class 9 proximal demonstrative.

##### Inflection
### References

* C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “le”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “le (2)”