Spanish has more than one word for "you", and picking the wrong one is one of the fastest ways to sound either stiff or overfamiliar. The basic split is tú (informal) and usted (formal), but depending on where you are, you'll also meet vos, vosotros and ustedes. This guide explains what each one is, when native speakers use it, and how the verbs change.
The forms of "you" in Spanish
| Form | Number | Register | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| tú | Singular | Informal | Everywhere, but less in some regions |
| vos | Singular | Informal | Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, most of Central America, parts of Colombia and others |
| usted | Singular | Formal | Everywhere |
| vosotros / vosotras | Plural | Informal | Spain only |
| ustedes | Plural | Formal in Spain; formal and informal in Latin America | Everywhere |
Two things surprise learners. First, usted takes third-person verbs, the same as "he" or "she": usted habla, not usted hablas. It comes from vuestra merced ("your grace"), which is why it behaves like a noun. Second, outside Spain there's no informal plural. Latin Americans say ustedes to a group of friends and to a room full of executives alike.
When to use tú and usted
There's no single rule, and the line moves by country, age and setting. These patterns hold broadly.
Use tú (or vos) with:
- Friends, family, children and pets
- People your own age in casual settings, especially young people
- Colleagues, in many modern workplaces
- Anyone who invites you to: Puedes tutearme or Háblame de tú ("You can use tú with me")
Use usted with:
- Older people you don't know well
- Officials, police, doctors and anyone in a formal role
- Customers, if you work in service, and often your boss, especially at first
- Anyone in a formal setting such as a meeting, interview or ceremony
When in doubt with an adult stranger, start with usted and let them invite you to switch. Spanish even has verbs for it: tutear (to address someone as tú) and ustedear or tratar de usted.
Spain vs Latin America
Spain uses tú very freely. Shop assistants, waiters, colleagues and even strangers of similar age often use tú from the start, and some people in their 40s or 50s may be mildly offended by usted because it makes them feel old. Usted is kept for elderly people, very formal situations and some official contexts.
Latin America generally uses usted more, and earlier. In Mexico, people often use usted with strangers, older people and service staff. In Colombia, and especially in Bogotá and parts of the Andes, usted is used even between friends, couples and family members, where it signals warmth and respect rather than distance. Costa Rica also uses usted very widely, alongside vos.
The safest approach is to listen first and mirror the people around you.
What is vos?
Vos is an informal singular "you" used instead of tú in much of Latin America. It's standard in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, very common in Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica), and used in parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and elsewhere. It isn't old-fashioned or rude. In Buenos Aires, everyone uses it, on billboards and on TV.
In the present tense, vos verbs stress the last syllable: vos hablás, vos comés, vos vivís. "To be" is vos sos. Commands drop the final -s of the present form: hablá, comé, vení.
How the verbs change
| Infinitive | tú | vos | usted | vosotros (Spain) | ustedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hablar (speak) | hablas | hablás | habla | habláis | hablan |
| comer (eat) | comes | comés | come | coméis | comen |
| vivir (live) | vives | vivís | vive | vivís | viven |
| ser (be) | eres | sos | es | sois | son |
| tener (have) | tienes | tenés | tiene | tenéis | tienen |
| venir, command (come!) | ven | vení | venga | venid | vengan |
| sentarse, command (sit down!) | siéntate | sentate | siéntese | sentaos | siéntense |
Pronouns and possessives change too. Tú and vos use te and tu (te llamo, tu casa). Usted uses lo/la/le and su (lo llamo, su casa). Vosotros uses os and vuestro.
Example sentences: tú vs usted
| English | tú | usted |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | ¿Cómo estás? | ¿Cómo está? |
| Where are you from? | ¿De dónde eres? | ¿De dónde es usted? |
| Do you have a minute? | ¿Tienes un minuto? | ¿Tiene un minuto? |
| Have a seat. | Siéntate. | Siéntese, por favor. |
| Would you like something to drink? | ¿Quieres algo de tomar? | ¿Quiere algo de tomar? |
| Could you pass me the salt? | ¿Me pasas la sal? | ¿Me pasa la sal, por favor? |
| I'll call you tomorrow. | Te llamo mañana. | Lo llamo mañana. (to a man) / La llamo mañana. (to a woman) |
| Thanks for your help. | Gracias por tu ayuda. | Muchas gracias por su ayuda. |
In Spain, algo de beber is more common than algo de tomar, and le llamo is widely used for usted regardless of gender. The same sentences with vos in Buenos Aires: ¿De dónde sos?, ¿Tenés un minuto?, Sentate.
Common mistakes
- Mixing forms in one sentence. ¿Usted tiene tu pasaporte? switches from usted to tú halfway. It should be ¿Usted tiene su pasaporte? Keep the verb, pronoun and possessive matching.
- Using second-person verbs with usted. Usted tienes is wrong. Usted always takes the third-person form: usted tiene.
- Assuming usted is always safer. In Latin America it usually is. In Spain, using usted with a friendly 35-year-old can sound cold or make them feel old.
- Forgetting ustedes is the only plural in Latin America. Vosotros will be understood, but it marks you as having learned Spain's Spanish.
- Getting commands wrong. Usted commands use the subjunctive form, with the pronoun attached: siéntese and dígame, not siéntase or dime.
- Leaving su ambiguous. Su casa can mean his, her, their or your house. When it's unclear, Spanish adds de usted: la casa de usted.
FAQ
Is usted rude in Spain?
No, but it can sound distant or overly formal with people under about 50 in everyday situations. Spaniards often switch to tú quickly and may tell you tutéame ("use tú with me"). With elderly people and in formal settings, usted is still expected.
Should I learn vosotros?
If you're learning Spain's Spanish, yes, because it's the everyday plural "you" there. If you're focused on Latin America, you only need to recognize it, and ustedes covers every group.
Is vos the same as tú?
It has the same meaning and the same level of informality, with different verb forms. In vos regions, it's simply how people talk. Using tú there isn't wrong, and everyone will understand you.
How do I ask someone if we can use tú?
Ask ¿Nos tuteamos? or ¿Te puedo tutear? ("Can I use tú with you?"). Usually the older or more senior person offers first, so it's more natural to wait for them in a formal setting.
Which form should I use with my partner's parents?
Start with usted, especially in Latin America, and switch only if they suggest it. In Spain, many families move to tú quickly, so follow your partner's lead.