Nosotros/Vosotros and Ustédes.

Question

Out of quite a few references, I have read that if you are using Spanish in Latin America (or places such as The United States), you don't really need to use nosotros/vosotros, because ustédes will cover all informal and formal conjugation. Is this true?

I have found ustédes is much easier for me to conjugate, but I will place special emphasis on learning the nos/vos conjugation as well if this is not true.

Answer 1

No, nosotros is used everywhere. It's only vosotros that isn't used in Latin America, and that ustedes will cover.

Nosotros is "we." Vosotros is you (plural and informal). - BigMike, Feb 8, 2013

Answer 2

"Ah, so Ustedes and Nosotros are my 'go-to' if I am using Spanish mainly in the States? Interesting, but still slightly confusing, haha."

It seems that you are a little confused about subject pronouns. Yo=I, tú/usted=you, nosotros=we, ustedes=you(plural), ellos/ellas=they.

In the case of vosotros, it is an informal replacement for "ustedes" in Spain. Similar to using "you all" in English.

Even though it is not generally used in conversation outside of Spain, it is used many times in literature. I would suggest having at least some familiarity to that form, at least to recognize what it is.

Oh, I didnt realize it was an informal replacement. Definitely helped me out with some kind of confusion, thanks! - Raspberri, Feb 9, 2013

Answer 3

I think you´re mixing two things.

EVERYplace uses nosotros, which is ´we´

The real choice is between ustedes, which is used formally for plural most every where, and informally for plural in many places, and vosotros, which is the informal plural in some places, mostly Spain.

So, yes, you may largely be able to avoid vosotros, but only narcissists will be able to avoid nosotros.

Ah, so Ustedes and Nosotros are my 'go-to' if I am using Spanish mainly in the States? Interesting, but still slightly confusing, haha. - Raspberri, Feb 8, 2013

There is no other option for nosotros. It's the same as asking if we use "yo" in the U.S. - BigMike, Feb 8, 2013

Another 2¢ worth - I am told by some of the Latin Americans that when they go to Spain, they decline to use the vosotro even though they know how to use it. - kirk1, Feb 8, 2013

Answer 4

In Uruguay, Buenos Aires, and several places in Central America and the Caribbean (e.g. Nicaragua), you will also need to learn the "vos" form in place of "tu." Spanish has a few sneaky hidden traps for you if you try too many shortcuts!

I have definitely noticed that. I will be mainly using my Spanish in South Florida (high Cuban population), and would like to use what they would be most familiar with. Im just going to make sure I have all three ingrained, and see how others speak. - Raspberri, Feb 8, 2013