When and How to Use Usted in Spanish [Tú vs Usted / Informal vs Formal]

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  • Опубліковано 12 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 115

  • @luciadelrio6289
    @luciadelrio6289 6 років тому +18

    I don´t know in other countries but here is Spain, we mostly use the informal you "tú" for everyone in exception of teachers and the eldest people you don´t know (just for being respectful)
    Nowadays people mostly refer to their grandparents with "tú" not with "usted" and we use TÚ for almost everyone.

  • @demonschnauzer1555
    @demonschnauzer1555 3 роки тому +7

    Usted versus tu (sorry I don't know how to put accent on this keyboard) is definitely something I feel I did not get everyone practice in in Spanish classes. I feel like most of the time, we just defaulted to using 'tu'. Now, I'm in an environment where I sometimes have to speak Spanish and I'm really wishing I got more of a hang of saying "usted" than thinking "tu" = "you" 100% of the time.

  • @zac8603
    @zac8603 4 роки тому +11

    Wow thank you so much for this video I have been trying to learn Spanish and have been learning/using tú exclusively. So when I saw usted it really threw me for a loop.

  • @StephaneCalabrese
    @StephaneCalabrese 6 років тому +13

    I am not a native Spanish speaker but I live in Colombia and I found it funny how people are switching from Usted to tú back and forth. For instance, in a shop or restaurant, you will definitely start addressing the clerk or waiter with Usted. But you may end up asking for the bill saying "me traes la cuenta por favor". In a family, parents will use Tu with their kids, but if they want to say something more seriously, be it complaining, arguying, or giving a piece of advice, they may switch to Usted. Some kids say Usted to their parents, some say Tú but even in the latter case, kids will switch to Usted when they want to ask for permission. In the street, you will definitely use Usted to answer to a beggar. Usted is mostly used to show respect, but it can also be used to add up a little bit of distance. It is a very subbtle thing and it took me quite a time to use it adequately. Plus in Colombia, at least in some regions, you can add up to the complexity throwing in the "Vos"form.

    • @latengocomoburro
      @latengocomoburro 5 років тому

      Colombians use formal for everything. So they are not a good example.

    • @Free_Snooki
      @Free_Snooki 3 роки тому

      Lmaoo. A beggar.
      _🤭_

  • @mep6302
    @mep6302 5 років тому +2

    Hola. Buen video. Soy de Argentina y uso el usted como lo dijeron ustedes en su vídeo. En vez de tú, uso vos. A menos que la persona tenga mi edad, cerca o menos, trato a todos de usted y en lugares públicos, al principio prefiero decir usted y luego veo si me paso al vos, a menos que sea joven y de entrada él/ella me diga vos. Si tuviera suegros obviamente les diría usted. Y a los familiares siempre les digo vos. Saludos.

  • @drxppy_kid2340
    @drxppy_kid2340 4 роки тому +3

    Thank you I needed this to complete my work for Spanish🙏🏾

  • @spinky3
    @spinky3 5 років тому +35

    My grandmother is from Colombia, but she address everybody and all ages with usted. She never says tu. Idk why.

    • @muneebshafique
      @muneebshafique 4 роки тому +4

      may be due to respect.

    • @ooo6554
      @ooo6554 4 роки тому

      am stuck with tu

    • @gastonvacherand1430
      @gastonvacherand1430 4 роки тому +11

      In most of Colombia people only speak formally, it is part of their dialect

    • @50sbabydoll
      @50sbabydoll 3 роки тому +1

      i think it's because she's an elder. it's common in hispanic-american countries (idk the rest of the spanish speaking countries) that elders use "usted" with everyone, the why it's probably because years ago, the "usted" was waaaay more used since everyone was more formal? so, they got raised like that.

    • @grassytramtracks
      @grassytramtracks Рік тому

      In Colombia, some people just don't use tú at all, it's just a variation in dialect

  • @juanguentenguea.gonzalez737
    @juanguentenguea.gonzalez737 3 роки тому

    Thank u for your things for saying tu and usted I appreciate you all to say those two things respectfully

  • @Kingpowch
    @Kingpowch 5 років тому +7

    I speak Spanish from Argentina and I find it very archaic and old-fashioned to address a parent with "Usted". It used to be common 50 or 100 years ago but nowadays it is not used, you just simply use "tú" or "vos".
    Hardly ever will you find a Spanish-Speaker (at least in the south) addressing a parent with Usted.
    For instance, in my country we do not use tú, instead we say "vos" as informal which replaces tú.
    Vos - Tú= You (singular informal)
    Usted= You (singular formal).
    Vosotros= You (plural informal *only in Spain*)
    Ustedes= You (plural informal-formal)

    • @julianmcatee1318
      @julianmcatee1318 5 років тому

      No. Vos is used in many countries but they understand tu and vos is almost always conjugated the same

    • @juliopolina
      @juliopolina 4 роки тому

      @debunker300 Vos is mainly used in Argentina and nearby countries, such as Uruguay and Paraguay, but not much in other Southamerican countries, The problem with using "Vos" is that they change other words as well. In your example: they would NOT say "Vos TIENES una pluma". Instead, they would say: "Vos tenés una pluma".

    • @stevendelaluz5347
      @stevendelaluz5347 4 роки тому

      I agree completely I’m Mexican and I use The Tu form not usted form it’s hard for me to speak in that form because my parents didn’t teach me in that way.

    • @oscarberolla9910
      @oscarberolla9910 4 роки тому

      @@juliopolina That's right, but Spanish speakers still understand it perfectly.

    • @muhammadalkafari3743
      @muhammadalkafari3743 3 роки тому

      Che sho también soy de argentina 🇦🇷 y sho amo a nuestro casteshano che

  • @coelhojesmartins
    @coelhojesmartins 6 років тому +1

    The best youtube spanish. Congratulations!

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому

      Jesiel Martins Coelho ¡Muchas gracias! 🙏🏻 Thanks for watching. We appreciate your support! Un saludo desde Puerto Rico. -Jim

  • @stevendelaluz5347
    @stevendelaluz5347 4 роки тому +10

    I’m from Mexico but we normally use the tu form even with family members older. I find it hard to speak with my Ecuadorian side of the family because it’s different ways of talking.

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  4 роки тому +1

      Cool! May is actually from Mexico, and we recorded this video in Colima, Mexico. Un saludo. -Jim

    • @Free_Snooki
      @Free_Snooki 3 роки тому

      The thing I can't stand is I saw ppl use it in different parts of the same sentence. It's so annoying.

  • @Nelson_504
    @Nelson_504 Рік тому +1

    The use of "usted" may vary from country to country, or even regions within a country. Please, if you're a non-native Spanish speaker, use "usted" to address ANYONE (unless they're children or teens) you meet for the first time. It makes you come across as polite, and well-mannered. I personally hate being addressed with "tú" by strangers. In my head, I'm like "I don't know you like that", but again, that's something cultural.

  • @amyash3801
    @amyash3801 4 роки тому +1

    I am going to use this video with my students. Thank you.

  • @lissetjm1254
    @lissetjm1254 3 роки тому

    Súper útil! Me encantó el vídeo, me estaba costando mucho trabajo explicarle el tú y usted a mi novio! Le está echando muchas ganas a sus lecciones de español y su vídeo lo ayudó mucho a comprender! Muchas gracias!!

  • @jasonusaf6326
    @jasonusaf6326 2 роки тому +1

    So I have a question…if I wanted to practice Spanish with a stranger, would the usted form be used in question? For example, would I say “Puedo practicar español con usted?” Or, would i say “Puedo practicar español contigo?” Is contigo informal?

  • @ianh7582
    @ianh7582 5 років тому +12

    If you think back about 40 years in the US, it was common for kids to ALWAYS address adults by Mr and Mrs. Also you would address your boss, landlord, or anyone you didn’t know by Mr or Mrs. (I actually like that better than todays informality - when telemarketers or other strangers call me by my first name my first thought is always “who are you to call me by my first name”)
    But anyway, if you remember those days, that’s a good way to think of how to use Usted vs Tú. A “Mr or Mrs” would be Usted, a first name basis would be tú

  • @mwuahchiloo9092
    @mwuahchiloo9092 5 років тому +1

    wow i had no idea i have been using tú instead of usted in everything noooooo thank you so much for telling us :)

    • @latengocomoburro
      @latengocomoburro 5 років тому +1

      No big deal, specially if you have an accent.

  • @catchthewave7722
    @catchthewave7722 Рік тому

    That was so good thanks a ton for posting this video

  • @CHINOYako7
    @CHINOYako7 6 місяців тому

    Hola , Cuando pueda , porfavor may i request for a video about pure Formal Spanish only video for Office situations or Job application set up. muchas Gracias !!!

  • @CowayneComarcho
    @CowayneComarcho 5 місяців тому

    That was helpful. When do you use the word tienes and tiene?

  • @heartbeat1264
    @heartbeat1264 6 років тому +3

    Thank you. It is similar to German. We also have two forms: Sie and du. And it is used in a similar way.

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому

      Danke schön. Thanks for watching! Ich spreche ein bisschen Deuche. ¡Saludos desde México! -Jim

    • @nicolejarosova4684
      @nicolejarosova4684 4 роки тому +1

      Same goes with Czech as we have 'ty' or 'vy'. The only difference is that we speak to all family members in informal way

    • @magnusvir117
      @magnusvir117 3 роки тому

      Italian have Lei which it's formal way

  • @mydentist4471
    @mydentist4471 2 роки тому +1

    you guys are such a cute couple

  • @erlingo6449
    @erlingo6449 3 роки тому

    Thank you this really helped me👍🏽

  • @ChetozZ-hw2fu
    @ChetozZ-hw2fu 4 роки тому

    Increíble forma de explicar su uso me agrada como graban 😉

  • @CRAWPvideos
    @CRAWPvideos 5 років тому +2

    Okay, I understand this. But unfortunately, I don't know where to put the "usted" in the sentence always and was hoping this video would clear that up. Do you have any advice?

  • @poisxe
    @poisxe 4 роки тому +2

    Hi does anyone know if I use the formal term when I am a visitor at a hotel talking to nice housekeepers, friendly taxi cab drivers, hotel staff ext...?

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  4 роки тому +1

      If they’re obviously older than you, use formal speech. If they seem to be around the same age or younger, you can use informal speech. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching! -Jim

  • @marlonmcgregor9346
    @marlonmcgregor9346 3 роки тому +1

    Do u have a ser estoy vid?

  • @1111-d7c
    @1111-d7c 6 років тому +2

    Now i know what is informal & formal 😁👍

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому

      Great! Thanks for watching! 😊 -Jim

    • @1111-d7c
      @1111-d7c 6 років тому

      Spanish and Go you welcome jim
      I didn't know how to use it exactly😁 BTW thanxs for this video Yeees finally 😁😁👍👍👍I LOVE SPANISH❤️

  • @invasorCELESTIAL19
    @invasorCELESTIAL19 6 років тому +8

    Muy buen video, muy informativo. Lo de “usted” es algo muy curioso, en el caso de mi familia mi hermano mayor y yo llamamos por “usted” a mi mama pero mi hermana menor la tutea y aveces me pongo a pensar y debe ser porque es la menor y es mujer y ademas es quien pasa mas tiempo con ella, al menos yo nunca me he sentido comodo en tutear a mi mama aunque ella nunca nos ha exigido que la llamemos de usted, aun asi tutearla me hace sentir como si le estuviera faltando el respeto.
    Me gusta mucho el contenido de su canal, ya me suscribi y espero que sigan creciendo mucho, saludos desde Carolina del Norte 👍

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому +1

      ¡Hola, Josh!
      Muchas gracias por tu comentario. 😊
      Así es, tutear a alguien yo creo que tiene mucho que ver con la confianza que creas con esa persona y el tiempo que pasan juntos. Tu hermana se ha ganado la confianza de tu mamá y por eso se siente más cómoda hablándole de "tú" que de "usted". Qué interesantes son las costumbres familiares de los Mexicanos y latinos, ¿no?
      Te mandamos un saludo desde las frías y lejanas tierras de Minnesota. ¡Muchas gracias!

  • @JC-musc
    @JC-musc 5 років тому +1

    Me inscribí porque quiero aprender ingles.

  • @martym915
    @martym915 6 років тому +4

    Nueve comentarios????????? Wow. Anyway, I learned a lot from this so Gracias
    Editar: Diez comentarios ahora

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому +1

      ¡Hola!
      Glad to hear you found our video useful. :)
      Thanks for watching and commenting!
      (Once ahora :p )

  • @muntazirzia3924
    @muntazirzia3924 3 роки тому

    She’s so prettyyyyyyy

  • @zulkiflijamil4033
    @zulkiflijamil4033 Рік тому

    We use tú informally with same age, with siblings and with younger people while we use usted formally when need to show respect and with strangers or when in doubt. Is that correct?
    ¿Puede usted ayudarme?

  • @tobikrutt
    @tobikrutt 6 років тому

    Muchas gracias por este video. Estoy más familiar con la firma de "tu" porque esta es la forma uso con mi tutor y mis amigas de España y Perú pero en México noté que "usted" es común. ¿Cuál es el significado de la frase "pueden tutearnos"? ¿"Can you please us" es igual a "por favor usa la forma de tu"?

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому +3

      ¡Hola, Tobi! "Puedes tutearme" es la forma más común en México para pedirle a alguien que use la forma informal de hablar.
      Sí usted quiere decirle a alguién que está bien usar el "tú" para comunicarse con usted, puede decir "hablame de tú, por favor".
      En Inglés sería como "Address me by "tú", please" or "Talk to me in the informal way of "you", please."
      ¡Gracias por vernos! -Jim & May

  • @madeleinereilly1452
    @madeleinereilly1452 6 років тому

    Now! I appreciate this video mucho!!! Muchas gracias!! :-))

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому

      ¡De nada! You might also like this one: ua-cam.com/video/ldcTmCedw98/v-deo.html
      Thanks for watching! -Jim

  • @chriswesley594
    @chriswesley594 4 роки тому +1

    Great video & I'm a constant listener to your podcast (at 70% speed - I'm only 90 days in) - thanks so much for those!
    Now. On USTED - In a DuolLngo forum someone said "... ustedes is the only plural you in Latin America. It carries no formality." - and I can't reconcile that with your video here. Are they just wrong?

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  4 роки тому +1

      Hi, Chris! Thanks for your support. Great question.
      The person from the Duolingo forum is correct. Since this video is mostly about _tú vs usted_ (formal you vs informal you), we didn't talk much about _ustedes,_ which is the plural you for Latin America, regardless of formality.
      So, you'll use _usted_ as a show of respect towards one person, and _ustedes_ to talk to any group of people, regardless of formality. Does that help clear things up? Thanks for watching! -Jim

    • @chriswesley594
      @chriswesley594 4 роки тому +3

      @@SpanishandGo Oh, it DOES. I simply didn't notice that USTED and USTEDES are not the same. HAHAHA. I have a degree. gulp. What an idiot I am. Sorry guys - kill me now.

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  4 роки тому +1

      @@chriswesley594 No worries! It's easy to miss. Glad we could help! -Jim

  • @mb3775
    @mb3775 4 роки тому +1

    Is it respectful to assume that someone is older? Might be insulting instead if they think they are younger than you.

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  4 роки тому +1

      Using _usted_ doesn't necessarily imply that you think the other person is older than you. It's also a sign of respect. It's better to play it safe with strangers and err on the side of being overly respectful. Thanks for watching! -Jim

    • @diegorivera9197
      @diegorivera9197 2 роки тому

      Yes some people get offended if you don’t talk to them with Usted. One time when I was little and in school my sister accidentally addressed my teacher with TU. The teacher got extremely mad, yelled at my sister, and told her to leave.

  • @mariaonaswing6109
    @mariaonaswing6109 4 роки тому

    As an older person (age 67), can I assume that 'tu' is the way to go even with waiters and other general interactions with sales people, etc? I would defer to 'usted' if the individual is clearly older than I am, but in general...???

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  4 роки тому

      Hi, Maria! That’s right. You can probably use the informal “tú” in most cases. Thanks for watching! -Jim

    • @poisxe
      @poisxe 4 роки тому +1

      @@SpanishandGo What is the most polite wait to address waiters, maids, sales people, hotel staff ext...? Is it usted form out of respect?

    • @oscarberolla9910
      @oscarberolla9910 4 роки тому

      @@poisxe
      It depends, if the waiter or waitress is young they can use TU, but if they are older than you, USTED can still be used.

    • @youknowbitch951
      @youknowbitch951 2 роки тому

      @@poisxe si quieres ser una persona respetuosa el "Usted" es bienvenido al 100% , si estas en un restaurante y se acerca una mesera aunque ella sea mas joven que tu incluso demasiado joven si quieres verte como una persona respetuosa usarias el "Usted" principalmente porque es alguien que no conoces, pero hablarle de "Tu" también esta bien siempre y cuando esta persona sea mas joven que tu ..

  • @cocos8970
    @cocos8970 6 років тому

    Do you have a video on the subjunctive form of verbs ?

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому +1

      Thanks for the comment Coco! We don't yet, but it's on the list. We do our best to try not to focus on grammar so much as contextual situations, so we've been planning a fun one for the subjunctive. Thanks for watching!

  • @tateshoquist7369
    @tateshoquist7369 5 років тому +1

    Es dificil aprender ingles? En ingles tienen las palabaras como two, to y 2.

    • @Kelvinllovejr
      @Kelvinllovejr 5 років тому

      Too también. En hablar es el mismo pero en escribir es 3 differente formas. 2 y two es el número dos. Too es también. To es a. No mucho dificil

  • @paulhillegass7738
    @paulhillegass7738 Місяць тому

    4:36
    Without explaining why, I have no idea what to do with this information.

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  Місяць тому

      Are you talking about the omission of the word “usted”?
      It’s like in English, where we can say:
      Hey! What are you doing?
      *vs*
      Hey, you! What are you doing?
      You don’t really need the “you” in the first sentence. It’s optional. The second sentence made it clear who you were talking to.
      I hope that clears things up!

  • @diegopozas1694
    @diegopozas1694 6 років тому +1

    I think in America "usted" is used a lot, but in Spain it's quite an uncommon and formal thing. I personally only use it for complete strangers or people I *really* need to give a good impression to. Otherwise, 90% of the times you say "usted" in Spain you're going to get "¡Tutéame, por dios!" as a response; it's an unnecessary formalism.

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому +1

      ¡Hola, Diego! Yes, the use of "usted" varies from country to country. It's usually better to play it safe when talking to someone you don't know. Thanks for watching! -Jim

  • @muhammadalkafari3743
    @muhammadalkafari3743 3 роки тому

    Che sho soy de Argentina 🇦🇷 y sho hablo en Vos como en mi casteshano

  • @sejohh_7961
    @sejohh_7961 5 років тому

    What about a medical professional addressing a patient? Does the same rules apply? I find myself using usted to almost everyone except small children.

    • @mep6302
      @mep6302 5 років тому +2

      I'm young, so doctors are informal to me. But with older people they're formal (or they should).

  • @AMendoza447
    @AMendoza447 4 роки тому +1

    Is it okay if I say usted with everyone ? 😂 I always use usted, even with siblings and close friends. I sort of got used to it

    • @mb3775
      @mb3775 4 роки тому

      It's not wrong to say it, it's just formal. Like calling your brother sir

    • @AMendoza447
      @AMendoza447 4 роки тому

      @@mb3775 Oohh okay, thank youu 😆

    • @marcobarrios1929
      @marcobarrios1929 3 роки тому

      I feel old when someone calls be used

    • @youknowbitch951
      @youknowbitch951 2 роки тому

      Decirles "Usted" a todo mundo no esta mal , es solo la manera formal, incluso te hace ver como una persona muy respetuosa, pero decirle "usted" a tu hermano/a o a un amigo muy cercano es muy raro, incluso un amigo se puede reir y burlarse de la forma en que le hablas

    • @grassytramtracks
      @grassytramtracks Рік тому

      It sounds weird, it's like calling your mates Mr or Mrs

  • @rosalbalopezvazquez2361
    @rosalbalopezvazquez2361 5 років тому

    Hola

  • @bibliopelicomic
    @bibliopelicomic 4 роки тому

    es dificil asta para el hispanop hablante

  • @EastbayGolfer
    @EastbayGolfer 6 років тому

    En Argentina no se usa tú pero vos. ¿Es verdad?

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  6 років тому

      Así es. Pero no hablamos sobre eso tanto para no confundir a la gente. En general, "tú" se entiende, y eso es lo importante. Si quieres vivir en o aprender el español de Argentina, pues sí, es importante entender y usar "vos" como ellos. ¡Gracias por vernos! -Jim

  • @Rusty_Dusty
    @Rusty_Dusty 4 роки тому

    Who else her for the zuñiga hw :)

  • @briantevez8287
    @briantevez8287 6 років тому +1

    lol y pensar que hablo todos los dias y lo doy por sentado como si nada

  • @geezlepuss7863
    @geezlepuss7863 6 років тому

    No, there are at least 4 you forms: Usted, tu, vos, & vuestra merced. & I am sure that the use varies a lot by the country you are in. If you are not a native of a country, best to stick to Usted in the singular to avoid offense. It seems to me that in telenovelas you are likely to hear vos when narcotrafficers are speaking.

    • @diegopozas1694
      @diegopozas1694 6 років тому

      Geezle Puss "vuestra merced" was used for the last time in the 19th century! It's a *very* old way of addressing people. Maybe you've read it in books, but in current Spanish it's not used at all.

    • @javiiiugp
      @javiiiugp 6 років тому

      @@diegopozas1694 In Colombia, "Vuestra merced" is used in Cundinamarca/Boyacá departments but in the form of "Su mercé".

  • @StefhanJKR
    @StefhanJKR 2 роки тому +1

    great video. My brother your hair and beard are not doing your face any favors.

  • @dominicoconnell1584
    @dominicoconnell1584 9 місяців тому

    I don't understand why...
    For say hablar...
    You all, plural familiar...vosotros/as hablais
    They, plural familiar...hablan
    Ustedes, you all formal...hablan
    Why not...ustedes, you all formal hablais

  • @hectorarce8931
    @hectorarce8931 5 років тому +2

    Tu for same social status? I think you guys are wrong in this.

  • @knotkool1
    @knotkool1 5 років тому +1

    with elders ok, but higher social status? wtf? you have a serf mentality. once a peon always a peon

  • @5urg3x
    @5urg3x Місяць тому

    Way too complicated

    • @SpanishandGo
      @SpanishandGo  Місяць тому +1

      Older than you or more powerful? = Usted
      Younger or less powerful than you? = Tú

    • @5urg3x
      @5urg3x Місяць тому

      @@SpanishandGo Haha…yes, I understand. I meant that I disagree with the concept.