Vosotros and Ustedes?
I know only in Spain people use vosotros/vosotras.. but does anyone know why only is Spain do they use it?
2 Answers
It's really just historical chance. The Spanish language was going through changes in different areas of Spain at the time of the colonization of the New World. Many of the conquistadores came from Andalusia, so people in Latin America speak like they did, rather than like the rest of the people in Spain. There's a little more detail in this link.
Tú and vosotros (singular and plural) : When you speak with a friend, your girl friend or boy friend, your brother or sister, your parents or grand-parents, or your nephews or nieces, or an uncle and an aunt, with a classmate, (it doesn't matter that you don't know him/her very well).
Usted and Ustedes (singular and plural) With a professor, a teacher, someone you treat RESPECTFULLY, or someone you've just met, and specially with someone you call "Sir", or Mr.
That is the difference.
'Vosotros' isn't used in most of the Canary Islands either, and in western Andalusia there is a common way of speaking in which 'ustedes' is used with the verbal forms corresponding to 'vosotros'
Usted - You
Ustedes - You guys/ y'all
Vosotros is 'you' in the plural form Nosotros is 'we' So if you try to substitute 'vosotros' by using 'nosotros' I don't think you'll be understood.
