Sometimes "Le" is used and I don't know why

Question

Hello, I'm new to the site but I have been studying/speaking Spanish for a few years now, so I'm usually pretty comfortable with just about anything, but sometimes I notice that the pronoun le is used and I'm not sure why...

Por ejemplo:

"Le disparó!" or "Le pegó" (hear these a lot watching soccer).

"¿Cómo le puedo ayudar?"

These have always sort of confused me (even though after hearing them for a while I just started repeating them in similar contexts) because I'm not sure what the implied direct object is referring to? What would be the grammatical explanation for why le is used in these contexts?

Thanks.

Bam, bam, bam! You just got 3 answers from fluent Spanish speakers! - rac1, Jun 13, 2017

Answer 1

¿Cómo le puedo ayudar? Le could substitute "usted", "él", "ella".

¿Cómo puedo ayudar? (without le) How can I help?

¿Cómo le puedo ayudar? How can I help you/him/her.

Of course, but why is it not "Como lo puedo ayudar (a usted/ella/el)?" - Mitchweezy, Jun 11, 2017

In some regions it could be lo or la. In some others le for both sexes. - polenta1, Jun 12, 2017

I agree - 000a35ff, Jun 13, 2017

Answer 2

In answer to "¿Cómo le/lo puedo ayudar? Either "lo" or "le" is correct when speaking to males. "La" is the only option when speaking to females. The "le" for males is a carryover from the "leísmo" heard in most parts of Spain.

This was my thought, but before posting it, I checked three other websites to see if I was correct, and learned that even the RAE allows it.

I agree with Daniela. I was taught Castillian Spanish and told to use "le" for males, although I would hear "lo" oftentimes when speaking to someone from the Americas. - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Jun 12, 2017

Hmm this is very interesting, thank you both! - Mitchweezy, Jun 12, 2017

Answer 3

"le" is to him/her/or usted. "Le disparó" implies un tiro. Le disparó on tiro. Literally "at him (someone) took a shot.)

Pegarle is similar. You are hitting someone or something a blow "un golpe."

Answer 4

For the formal you. ( usted ,ustedes) it is admited the use of le or les and it is called (leismo de cortesía).

Dígame señora ¿como le/la puedo ayudar (a usted)?. Ok

Díganme señoras ¿ como les/las puedo ayudar a ustedes?. Ok

Dígame señor ¿como le/lo puedo ayudar (a usted)?. Ok

Díganme señores ¿como les/los puedo ayudar a ustedes?. Ok

For to him or to her:

A clarification. Using the verb "ayudar" or pegar I would use "le" because I am using the verb in an intransitive way because in latín and old spanish it was used the dative case for this verb. And it is the way it is still used in my country. Lo or la are also oK and more used in Hispanoamérica

Cómo le/lo puedo ayudar (a el). Ok

Como le/la puedo ayudar (a ella) ok

With other transitive verbs.

¿como la llevo? Ok being ella the direct object.

¿como le llevo (a ella)? Wrong. Being ella the direct object.

¿como le/lo llevo? Ok. Being él the direct objetivo.

¿como los llevo? Ok being ellos the direct object. ¿como les llevó? Wrong being ello the direct object.