When to use Tu
Is it considered bad manners to use tu when meeting somebody for the first time.
3 Answers
It's roughly equivalent to using a person's first (given) name in English. When introduced to the president of the company where you work or your professor of X in a university, you probably would not say "Hi, Bob, how's it goin'?" By the same token, if a friend introduces you to his friend, You would be unlikely to say "Mr Williams, it's such a pleasure to meet you."
It is mainly ok if the other guy is young. I recommend to use "usted" if the other one is older or it is a business meeting.
When meeting someone for the first time, unless they are yonger than you, use "usted" to show respect to them.
Por ejemplo:
Meeting one of my upcoming students next year:
¿Como estás? I used "tú" because the student is younger than me.
Now if I were meeting the new superintendant: ¿Como está, señor? I used "usted" becuase he/she is at a higher status than a teacher (me), (I'm not really a teacher, I'm actually a seventh grade bilingual student who helps tutor.)
