Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tú | /ˈtu/ | familiar |
| usted | /usˈted/ | polite |
| vos | /ˈbos/ | familiar |
The different forms of "you" serve as subject pronouns to address the person being spoken to. tú is the most common informal way to say "you", while usted is the most common formal way. When addressing a group of people formally, you use ustedes.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the level of respect and the person being addressed. tú and vos are both used for the singular informal "you". In contrast, usted is used to show respect or to maintain social distance, whereas tú is used for friends and family.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tú is a familiar and informal form. usted is a polite and formal form. In certain regions, vos is used as an informal alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
vos is an informal way of saying "you" that is mainly used in certain regions of Latin America, such as Argentina, Uruguay and parts of Central America.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Even though usted means "you", it takes the third-person singular verb conjugation instead of the second-person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtu/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the subject pronoun tú (you) with the possessive adjective tu (your).
Did you know?
- The formal usted is a linguistic contraction of the old phrase vuestra merced, which translates to 'your mercy' or 'your grace'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, switching from usted to tú during a conversation is a significant social gesture called 'tutear' that marks the beginning of a friendship.
- The use of vos in places like Argentina is not just a regional accent but involves its own unique set of verb conjugations different from those used with tú.
Examples in context
- ¿Y tú qué tal?And you, how are you?This example shows how to use tú to ask how someone is doing.Tatoeba #618944 by Shishir, translation #388264 by Dorenda
- Si yo fuera tú.If I were you.This sentence uses tú in a conditional context.Tatoeba #754014 by Shishir, translation #10121564 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿No eres tú Tom?Aren't you Tom?This sentence uses tú to confirm someone's identity.Tatoeba #797225 by Shishir, translation #37392 by CK
- Buenos días, señor. ¿Cómo está usted hoy?Good morning, sir. How are you today?
- Señora Rodríguez, ¿puede ayudarme usted?Mrs. Rodríguez, can you help me?
- Estimados señores, ¿ustedes necesitan algo más?Dear sirs, do you need anything else?
- ¿Cómo están ustedes hoy?How are you all today?
- ¡Hola Juan! ¿Tú quieres venir al cine conmigo?Hi Juan! Do you want to come to the movies with me?
- ¿Cómo estás tú?How are you?
- Che, vos sos muy divertido/a.Hey, you are really fun.
- Vos tenés un perro adorable.You have an adorable dog.
- 1762 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking at a party.
- Javier¿Tú eres la nueva vecina?Are you the new neighbor?
- SofíaSí, yo soy Sofía.Yes, I am Sofía.
- JavierMucho gusto, yo soy Javier.Nice to meet you, I am Javier.
- SofíaEncantada de conocerte, Javier.Delighted to meet you, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you” translations and entries tú, usted, vos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tú, usted, vos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
