Ello

Ello
 

When exactly do you use this word? I heard it in Rosetta stone literally once, and I can't remember for what purpose.

Thanks!

I am by no means an expert, so someone correct me if I'm worng, but I believe that translates to "it" depending on how it's used.

Right.

:)

EDIT:

I know you are studying Spanish. It does not mean it is going to be extraordinarily difficult or easy for you to be fluent in Spanish in 1 year.

Sé que estás estudiando castellano. Ello/esto/eso no significa que va a ser extraordinariamente difícil o fácil que seas fluido en castellano en un año.

This pronoun isn't used very often, representing someone/something whose gender is not known.

Cool. Yeah I figured it wasn't used very often at all.

Thanks chileno.. do you have other examples of ello's usage?

Hundreds, but usually I use "this (esto) or that (eso)" :)

;)

Examples:

·¿Sabes qué le pasó a María? Hace un rato pasó corriendo como si le fuera la vida en ello.
Do you know what happened to María? A moment ago she passed by running as if her life depended on it.

·Vamos a ello. (I've only heard this one from Spaniards, but it would be well understood in Mexico.)
Let's get started.

·Tu papá y yo nos vamos a divorciar, pero no por ello vamos a dejar de quererte.
Your dad and I are divorcing, but we won't stop loving you because of that.

--¿Ya terminaste el trabajo? -> Have you finished your work?
--Estoy en ello. -> That's what I'm doing.

·Me emborraché en una fiesta de la empresa y pagué caro por ello: me despidieron ayer.
I got drunk in a party of the firm and I paid dearly for it: they fired me yesterday.

·No voy a competir en la carrera; no estoy en condiciones para ello.
I won't compete in the race, I'm not in good condition for that.

·Siempre he recibido apoyo de mi familia; a ello le debo estar hoy aquí.
My family has always supported me, I owe to that being here today.