the spanish of "you": tú vs. usted

Question

Can the use of "usted" and "ti" be interchanged when you refer to "you"? When are ti, tu, su, usted, or ustedes should be used?

Answer 1

Typically for all intents and purposes start with "usted" forms for anyone you meet unless they are a small child. That is perhaps the only instance in which it would be immediately okay to talk with the "tú" forms with them. Other than that, always assume "usted." In spanish speaking countries you actually can ask the person to be more casual with you, asking "¿nos tuteamos?" And if they respond positively then begin to use "tú", as they will with you. And just be careful when writing "tú" because without the accent it means "your."

• yeah 'tú', im just a reeeal lazy typer and rarely type out accents. THanks! :) - cheeseisyumm 26 de Ago, 2009

Answer 2

Can the use of "usted" and "tú" be interchanged when you refer to "you"?

Hi drupe, welcome to the forum.

Yes, basically this is correct. In English the polite form "usted" does not exist.

Ustedes is the plural form of the polite form, used for older people and in formal occasions.

• Thank you for the answer. - drupe0906 26 de Ago, 2009

Answer 3

Ok, also: i understand 'usted' is for polite/formal/people you don't know and with older people, but in real usage in spanish countries, if you were a male in your twenties and just met a girl same age at a coffee shop or something, what would actually be used, tu or usted, or is it more of personal preference at that point?

Answer 4

Usetd is a very formal usage. Unless you are talking to a very important person, the usage of this form is almost a put off. The formalities are not typically used in day to day conversation.

Answer 5

So joeWaverage, you are saying its ok if I just met a cute girl and the first sentence I said to her had the word "you" in it, its ok to use "tú" as she will not get offended or make fun of me? In other words I dont wanna know what the text book tells me I should use, I wanna know whats really done/practiced in real life among people in spanish countries.

• It seems to me that when I first started speaking spanish abroad, not that I am an expert, I always used the usted form of verbs, which seemed to kind of shock people. It was like I was speaking to someone very important, it was a little off putting. - joeWaverage 26 de Ago, 2009
• ok cool thanks. i guess i will try it both ways if i ever get the chance to visit elsewhere and see what results I get. - cheeseisyumm 26 de Ago, 2009