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"El" is a form of "el", a definite article which is often translated as "the". "Él" is a form of "él", a pronoun which is often translated as "he". Learn more about the difference between "el" and "él" below.
el(
ehl
)
A definite article is a word that identifies a noun as specific or known to the speaker (e.g., the girl).
definite article
a. the
El gato está en el tejado.The cat is on the roof.
El teléfono estaba encima de la mesa.The telephone was on top of the table.
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él(
ehl
)
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
pronoun
a. he (subject)
Él ha sido mi mejor amigo por 15 años.He has been my best friend for 15 years.
b. him (object)
Dale el libro a él.Give the book to him.
c. it (things or animals)
Ese insecto parece inocente pero todavía tengo miedo de él.That bug seems harmless but I still am afraid of it.
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