Difference Between “el” and “él”

Confused about when to use each one? In this post, MaestroMío breaks it down with clear explanations and examples to help you master the difference easily. Keep reading to clear up your doubts!

In Spanish, “el” and “él” are words that are pronounced the same but have different grammatical functions. The key to distinguishing them is the use of the accent mark:

• “El” (without an accent) is a definite article.
• “Él” (with an accent) is a personal pronoun. Below, we explain their differences with examples to avoid confusion.

Use of “el” (without an accent)

✅ “El” is a definite article, meaning it accompanies a noun and defines it as something known or specific. 🔹 Examples:

• Voy a comprar el libro que me recomendaste (= I’m going to buy the book you recommended)
• Me gusta el café sin azúcar (= I like coffee without sugar)
• El perro de mi vecino es muy juguetón (= My neighbor’s dog is very playful)

📌 Practical rule: If the word “el” can be replaced by “un” without changing the meaning of the sentence, it doesn’t have an accent. Example:

• Voy a comprar un libro (= I’m going to buy a book) ✅ (You can replace “el” with “un,” so it doesn’t need an accent.)

Use of “él” (with an accent)

✅ “Él” is a third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to a person, animal, or male entity. 🔹 Examples:

• Juan es mi hermano, él vive en Madrid (= Juan is my brother, he lives in Madrid)
• Ayer vi a Carlos y él me saludó primero (= Yesterday I saw Carlos, and he greeted me first) 
• Si necesitas ayuda, pregúntale a él (= If you need help, ask him)

📌 Practical rule: If “él” can be replaced by “ella” without changing the meaning of the sentence, then it takes an accent. Example:

• Ayer vi a Laura y ella me saludó (=Yesterday I saw Laura, and she greeted me) ✅ (Since “él” can be replaced by “ella,” it needs an accent.)

Comparison between “el” and “él”: