ustedes
/usˈtedes/
uds is an abbreviation for the Spanish word for 'you all' or 'you guys', referring to more than one person.
uds is a common acronym used to refer to the formal second-person plural pronoun ustedes. It is a shorthand way to say 'you all' or 'you guys'.
Which one should you use?
While ustedes is the standard way to say 'you plural' in most of Latin America, in Spain a distinction is often made between the informal vosotros and the formal ustedes. In Latin American Spanish, however, ustedes is used for both formal and informal situations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
ustedes is the norm in most Latin American countries. In Spain, vosotros is more common for informal address.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ustedes always takes the third-person plural verb form, even when you are addressing the people directly.
How do you pronounce it?
/usˈtedes/
Did you know?
- In Spain, using ustedes with a group of friends can be perceived as cold or overly distant, whereas in Mexico it is the only natural choice.
- Because ustedes is derived from a title of respect, it remains grammatically grouped with 'third person' pronouns rather than 'second person' ones.
- In certain historical contexts and very formal Spanish correspondence, you might see 'Vds.' instead of 'uds.' as an even older abbreviation for the same concept. This reflects the evolution of formal address in the Spanish language.
Examples in context
- Ustedes son muy amables.You all are very kind.
- ¿Ustedes quieren comer algo?Do you all want to eat something?
- Espero que ustedes lleguen pronto.I hope that you all arrive soon.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are meeting some old friends at a cafe.
- Lucía¡Hola! ¿Cómo están ustedes?Hello! How are you all doing?
- MateoEstamos muy bien, Lucía.We are very well, Lucía.
- LucíaMe alegra mucho verlos.I am very happy to see you.
- MateoNosotros también nos alegramos.We are also happy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ustedes, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
