Levels of formality in Spanish

Question

I had heard that there are levels of formality in Spanish. For example, when speaking to someone you're very familiar with, you might use "tutear" or when addressing an elder, you might use "Usted" etc.

However, I'm wondering if there is a higher level to address God? I had heard there was, but can't seem to find much about it. I keep a Spanish journal to practice and develop the language, but sometimes I like to write my prayers down as well. If there's a higher form I should be writing in, I'd like to practice it. Thx.

Welcome to SD amigo. - ian-hill, Feb 6, 2016

Answer 1

I pray in English, not Spanish (your idea is good though, I should change that for practice), but:

Everything I have ever read says the relationship with God is a personal one, close enough to justify tú, and so normally in Spanish- you use tú. Tú here to express a level of closeness and familiarity, not a lack of respect. One would use tú with one's spouse, and normally with one's parents, with no implication of disrespect (I have read that there are North Andean areas where parents are always Usted though I don't know if that is true).

Here is a sample answer backing me.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110128175007AASguw3

Even the prayer in Spanish is in the tu form:

Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos, santificado sea tu nombre.... Here, refer to God with "usted" would sound inappropriate. Because it just doesn't fit...

I agree with @Kate, the tu/usted form is about formality, and it can change depending on the country. At least in Colombia we refer to God in tu form. As I said before, even the prayer is in the tu form:

I might add that my general understanding is that Colombia is fairly formal, and usted quite common, not like Spain where tú is used more freely. So if a Colombian says use tú, it is liable to be fairly universal.

When I was in a hospital in Puerto Real I asked a woman if the man she was visiting was her papá. She said "No he is my padre". - ian-hill, Feb 6, 2016

i agree bosque. - 000a35ff, Feb 6, 2016

Thanks, Astotxua. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 6, 2016

Answer 2

Soy un cristiano evangélico o creyente He hablado mucho con otros cristianos evangélicos que vienen de varios países hispanohablantes del mundo, tales como España, Colombia, Chile y Brazil y todos están de acuerdo de que se usa la forma tü para hablar con Dios porque tenemos una relación íntima y personal con él.

No tratamos a Dios con falta de respeto cuando usamos esta forma tú porque somos sus niños por tener confianza en su hijo, Jesucristo. (Gálatas Cap 3 vs 26) El Dios de Abraham, Isaac y Jacob conoce muy bien los pensamientos y las intenciones de todos nuestros corazones y le importa más las actitudes de nuestros corazones hacia él que las palabras que usamos. (1 Sam C16 vs 7 )

I am an evangelical Christian or believer. I have spoken a lot with other evangelical Christians that come from various Spanish-speaking countries of the world, such as Spain, Colomba, Chile and Brazil and they all agree that you use the familiar tú form to speak with God because we have a close personal relationship with him.

We do not treat God with a lack of respect when we use this tú form, because we are his children through faith in his son, Jesus Christ ! (Galations Ch 3 v 26) The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob knows very well the thoughts and intentions of all our hearts, and he is more concerned about the attitude of our hearts towards him than our words! (1 Sam Ch 16 v7)

Finally, when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in response to their request, it is written in Spanish: " Y les dijo: Cuando oréis, decid, Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos, sanctificado sea tu numbre, venga tu reino ..." (Lucas cap 11 v 2)

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

You see it pretty much the same way I do. - Daniela2041, Feb 6, 2016

Yes, I do see it much the same as you ,Dani :) btw How are you getting on with using those 'pink' boxes we were speaking about in our PM? ;) - FELIZ77, Feb 6, 2016

Answer 3

As a Pentecostal Messianic Jew, I address God as "Abba" (Daddy) and with my "daddy" I always use "tú." Jesus, Mk.14:36, and the Apostle Paul (Rom. 8:15, Gal 4:6)) used this term when addressing the "Father."

Brilliant, I love it :) - FELIZ77, Feb 6, 2016

Answer 4

This is a cut-out from World Forum reference , gracias a Domtom, 2007:

El Dios de los católicos es tratado por éstos de Tú, de esto no me cabe la menor duda. El de los cristianos no católicos, no lo sé, pero probablemente también. Hay que tener en cuenta que, para los cristianos, Dios es nuestro Padre, lo que hace distante tratarle de usted, aunque en tiempos de Franco muchos trataban de usted a sus padres terrenales (ahora ya no, los niños les tutean).

Ese tutear a Dios es de lo general, si bien a veces se le trata de Vos (como al Señor, además de a Dios), pero de Usted jamás de los jamases. Y los creyentes cuando rezan siempre tutean a Dios, nunca le tratan de Vos. El Vos se puede ver en citaciones bíblicas o de textos de santos muy antiguos, pero se le reza con Tú.

As you can see it agrees with Bosque. The Vos that is refered to is the oldfashioned one that works like the French 'vous'. It is hardly used any more except in historic tele-novelas.