Lesson 9.2, correct pronoun

In lesson 9.2 there is the following sentence:

“No le vi a mi mamá.”

Why is it not “No la vi a mi mama”?

Ver comes with a direct object, and mama is fem.

¡Hola peterhudelmaier!

Thank you for your question!

This particular sentence in Lesson 9.2 is an example of something called leísmo in Spanish, in which a direct object pronoun (most often the masculine lo) is replaced with le instead. This is a regional phenomenon that mostly only crops up in Spain, although it does appear in some parts of Latin America too.

It would be perfectly correct (and universally acceptable) to use la instead as you suggest and say No la vi a mi mamá!

Saludos,

Liss