Usted form. Is it really used?
My friend from Spain told me that he has never in his life used the usted form. Even if he has just met someone, after introduction he will use the tu form. He is from Galicia by the way.
He even joked that no one has ever called him usted without adding "your making a scene" 
Anyway. Is he on to something. Are there places where the usted form is never used or is he pulling my leg?
8 Answers
Well... if you ask Mi Abuela, Mi Tia, Mi Mamá, everyone o'l school, etc... they will tell you "Claro que si!" I am Mexican American but I was raised to speak to my elders, people of authority, anyone new, addressing an audience, etc. in usted form. And even though I am new school, in my house, I raise my kids to always use usted, until/unless someone address you to call them in an informal way. It is polite and proper :0)
I hear it very regularly from Mexicans and some South Americans and it would be considered rude not to use the "usted" form when you're speaking to someone older or in authority until you're asked not to. I noted the other day when at a barbeque with a Colombian woman and her twenty-something year old son that the son always used the "usted" form with his mother. I haven't been around many people when they are with their parents so I'm not sure how common that is. It's probably like how some people would always say "yes, ma'am" to their mother or teacher and others wouldn't. I'd recommend using "usted" if you are in the U.S. since it's better to come off as too polite than rude. I'm fascinated that it's not used in Spain.
Heidita, the Goddess of SpanishDict, told me that "usted" is almost never used in Spain.
My goodness! I lived in Spain for six years and I never used 'tu' unless specifically invited to use it! And I was following 'their' lead! Don't believe everything you read on the internet! I think certain people at work would have exploded if I had used 'tu' with them! We were allowed to call the President 'Don Francisco' at the Christmas party. That was quite exciting.
My colleague from Honduras once told me that she has always addressed her parents as "usted" (obviously when she was speaking with each one individually).
I hear it all the time in Mexico. In fact, I knew I must be getting really old when people started addressing me as "usted"!!
Wow -- the "usted" form is never used in Spain; I never knew that. Oh well they have to deal with the "vosotros" form.
Here in California we use the "usted" form all the time; many, many times everyday.
It is not really that hard to learn.
I have been addressed in the usted form on a number of occasions in Barcelona.
Have a look at this thread too.
