yo
/ˈʝo/
The English word 'I' is translated into Spanish as yo.
yo is the personal pronoun used to mean 'I'. In many informal conversations, it is commonly omitted since the verb conjugation often implies the subject.
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Which one should you use?
While the pronoun is often omitted, you should use yo instead of omitting it when you want to emphasize or contrast yourself with someone else.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun yo is often omitted in Spanish because the verb conjugation already indicates the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝo/
Did you know?
- While yo means 'I', using it too frequently in a conversation can make a speaker sound arrogant or narcissistic to native speakers.
- In many Spanish dialects, particularly in parts of Spain, the 'y' in yo can sound almost like a 'sh' or 'zh' sound, depending on the regional accent.
- The Spanish pronoun yo shares the same Latin ancestor as the English word 'I', both originating from the Latin word egō.
Examples in context
- Yo sí te amo.I do love you.This sentence is useful for expressing affection with yo.Tatoeba #1246286 by marcelostockle, translation #71454 by CK
- Yo no vi nada.I saw nothing.This sentence is useful for expressing that you saw nothing with yo.Tatoeba #497573 by Shishir, translation #256395 by CK
- Yo no lo hice.I did not do it.This sentence is useful for stating you did not do something with yo.Tatoeba #625873 by Leono, translation #625872 by Leono
- Yo soy un médico.I am a doctor.
- Yo hablo español con fluidez.I speak Spanish fluently.
- Yo trabajo en una empresa multinacional.I work for a multinational company.
- Soy de México.I am from Mexico.
- Hablo inglés.I speak English.
- Trabajo mañana.I work tomorrow.
- Hablo español, güey.I speak Spanish, dude.
- Hoy yo mismo cocino la cena.Today, I myself will cook dinner.
- 1953 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing who will pay for the coffee.
- DanielYo pago el café.I will pay for the coffee.
- LucíaNo, yo lo pago.No, I will pay for it.
- DanielEstá bien, yo invito.Fine, it is my treat.
- Lucía¡Gracias, Daniel!Thanks, Daniel!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “i” translations and entries yo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries yo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
