When do I use 'usted, ustedes, tu, vosotros'? It's confusing to me...

Question

I don't know when to use 'usted, ustedes, tu, vosotros' as in their difference???

Answer 1

Welcome to the forum.

It depends on who you're talking to. It's the difference between singular and plural, and formal and familiar.

tú = singular, familiar
usted = singular, formal
vosotros = plural, familiar (pretty much only in certain places in Spain)
ustedes = plural, formal, and plural, familiar outside of those places in Spain

If you don´t know the difference between familiar and formal then you should check out some of the lessons here.

Answer 2

(Adding on to KevinB's answer...)

Note that you will use "tú" when you know the person or if they are younger than you. You will use "usted" in formal occasions, to show respect to the person and if they are older than you.

"Ustedes" is just the plural of "usted". It is used when talking to a group of people (both formal and informal).

"Vosotros" is only used around Spain. It would be used to address a group of people in an informal situation.