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Origin of Vo(s) ??

Origin of Vo(s) ??

3
votes

I have often heard something like "Para vo(s)" which I understood to mean "For you"

But the only connection I can see for this is "vosotros" which is plural infomal you - which is not used here.

So where does "vo(s)" come from?

Note that it is said without the "s" sound where I am.

2086 views
updated May 4, 2010
posted by ian-hill
Btw, good question Ian!! - Benz, Mar 21, 2010

1 Answer

3
votes

It's the same as "vos" (you) used in Argentina and some other countries I don't remember now. it's called "voseo". Why is the s gone? Becuase it's aspirated. Same as English natives speak fast, so do we... and most of the times we aspirate or assimilate sounds. I guess this is the case:

Example:

Vo(s) estás re loco!! You're nuts!! (When pronounced put the stress on the verb)

.

The History of VOS

VOS comes from the second person plural pronoun YOU in Latin (also VOS). Around V century the plural form VOS started to be used to address the Roman Emperor as a sign of respect because the Emperor represents the people. Later his use of plural YOU has spread to other social groups as a general form of polite address. Many languages still retain this influence. For example in French the plural VOUS is used to address a single person in a formal way.

In Spain and it’s colonies the use of VOS evolved to replace TÚ even in informal contexs such as among friends and family. Thus VOS lost its original purpose as a means of polite address of people in authority. The Spanish aristocracy then came up with a new mode of polite address VUESTRA MERCED which later with time became abbreviated into the now common USTED.

With the rise of USTED as a formal way of address TÚ made a comeback in Spain and regained its original use as a familiar form of YOU. The use of VOS correspondingly declined. However, the countries such as Argentina that were less connected to the Spanish Empire and thus were less influenced by its fashions have retained the use of VOS for the familiar form of address that was common when the country was originally settled.

Hope it helps! wink

updated May 4, 2010
edited by Benz
posted by Benz
It is a fantastic reply Benz - Muchas gracias. - ian-hill, Mar 21, 2010