Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tú | /ˈtu/ | familiar |
| usted | /usˈted/ | polite |
| vos | /ˈbos/ | familiar |
The words used to address a person as 'you' function as subject pronouns. You can also use these forms as determiners to refer to the individual or group being spoken to. Additionally, there are specific verbs, such as ustedear and vosear, which mean to address someone using the more formal second-person pronoun.
Which one should you use?
tú and vos are used for the singular informal 'you', whereas usted is used for the singular formal 'you'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
usted is the most common way to address someone formally. tú is a common and standard informal way to say 'you'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and parts of Central America, vos is used instead of tú for informal situations.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun tú is used with second-person singular verb conjugations.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtu/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid mixing formal and informal forms by using a tú verb with an usted pronoun in the same sentence.
Did you know?
- The formal usted is actually a contraction of the phrase vuestra merced, which means 'your mercy' or 'your grace'.
- The formal usted is used in some regions to address family members, such as children addressing their parents, to show deep respect.
- In some social circles, people may switch between tú and usted during a single conversation to signal a change in emotional distance or authority.
Examples in context
- ¿Y tú qué tal?And you, how are you?This sentence shows how to use tú when asking 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 statement.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
- ¿Cómo estás tú?How are you?
- Tú eres muy amigableYou are very friendly
- ¿Cómo están ustedes?How are you all?
- Tú eres mi mejor amigo.You are my best friend.
- ¿Cómo te llamas tú?What is your name?
- Vos sos muy talentoso.You are very talented.
- Perdón, ¿usted sabe dónde está la estación de tren?Excuse me, do you know where the train station is?
- ¿Cómo está usted hoy, señor García?How are you today, Mr. García?
- 1762 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking about their hobbies.
- DanielA mí me gusta leer, ¿y a tú?I like to read, and you?
- SofíaA mí me gusta pintar.I like to paint.
- DanielTú eres muy creativa, Sofía.You are very creative, Sofía.
- SofíaGracias, Daniel.Thank you, Daniel.
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.
