French distinguishes between direct (le/la/les) and indirect object pronouns (lui/leur). In English, this distinction is lost and both types of pronouns are (him/her/it/them). The giveaway that you're dealing with an indirect object is that you'll find a preposition preceding it.

Je mange la pomme -- Je la mange. (I eat it)
La pomme, and its pronoun la, are of the direct object version.

Je parle à Ella. -- Je lui parle. (I talk to her)
À Ella, and the corresponding indirect object pronoun lui, are rendered in English as "to her". The indication that it's an indirect object pronoun is the preposition à in French and "to" in English. Note, though, that the preposition is absent when using the pronoun (lui).