Usted vs tú - formal vs familiar.
I already read the thread "Usted vs Tú", but no one voted on any responses. 1) Would the native speakers of Spanish please re-read the responses and "vote up" the answers to which they agree. 2) Similarly, there are a lot of Latinos in my work environment. When I first met them a few years ago, I addressed them as 'Usted'. But now it seems awkward because I've known them for a long time. Do I switch to 'tú'? I am a low-level office worker. Some of them are working in the kitchen as cooks and some are housekeepers. We are probably similar in age. I try to speak to them in Spanish and view them as equals. 3) If I'm speaking to someone that appears to be maybe 10 years younger than myself, is it always appropriate to use 'tú', even when I first meet them?
2 Answers
As a native speaker ( and Mexican) I can tell you that it is not appropiate to start using "tú" just because people are younger. "Tú" is used in a familiar context, and many times in a friendly environment. It does not mean, that each and every friendly environment automatically allows a person to use the familiar "tú" ( at least not in Mexico).
An office environment can be very friendly and among the co-workers the familiar "tú" would be very acceptable, but the boss or management would always be the formal you ( usted) until they tell you otherwise. The same applies to your co-workers; the only difference is that you can ask your co-workers "¿lo puedo tutear?" ( which means: may I use the informal "tú" with you?).
Now, if a co-worker feels uncomfortable with you, using the formal "Usted", probably he or she will tell you the same: "por favor tutéame" ( which means: please address me informally, -using "tú" when speaking to me-)
