vos
informal, Argentina
In Argentina the informal "you" is vos, not tú. Usted is the formal form and ustedes is the plural for both formal and informal speech.
Meaning: the person being spoken to (pronoun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| vos | informal, Argentina |
| Usted | formal |
| Ustedes | plural |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Argentines use vos with friends, family and most people they meet. Usted is kept for older strangers, officials and respectful situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
Vos has its own verb forms: vos tenés, vos sos and vos querés. The plural never uses vosotros in Argentina.
Did you know?
- The use of vos is called voseo, and it is also found in Uruguay, Paraguay and parts of Central America.
Examples in context
- Vos sos de Buenos Aires.You are from Buenos Aires.
- ¿Usted necesita ayuda?Do you need help?
- Ustedes son bienvenidos.You all are welcome.
Example conversation
Carla meets Diego, a new coworker, at an office in Buenos Aires.
- CarlaHola, ¿vos sos Diego?Hi, are you Diego?
- DiegoSí, mucho gusto.Yes, nice to meet you.
- CarlaIgualmente, bienvenido.Likewise, welcome.
