Pronouns and Dropping Them in Spanish

In English we always include subject pronouns (I, you, he/she, etc.), but in Spanish the verb endings indicate the subject, so subject pronouns are often omitted. A guide from Spanish Academy explains that dropping pronouns makes you sound more natural.

Subject Pronouns in Spanish

While it’s important to know these pronouns, you’ll quickly notice native speakers omit them unless they need to emphasise the subject. Compare:

• Yo hablo español. → Hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
• Ella come manzanas. → Come manzanas. (She eats apples.)

When to Use Pronouns

Use pronouns when the subject is unclear or when you want to emphasise who is performing the action. Otherwise, drop them to sound more natural. When listening and speaking, pay attention to verb endings to determine the subject without pronouns.

Bonus: Rolling Your “R”

In addition to grammar, pronunciation plays a big role in sounding native. Spanish has two distinct ‘r’ sounds: a tapped r (like in pero) and the rolled rr (as in perro). The Spanish Academy article offers tips on producing these sounds. Practice with words like carro (car) and tres (three) to master the rolled rr.