Uses of son
When I searched the meaning of "son" on internet it showed it means "they are".But when I searched "ustedes son mujeres" it was translated into"you are women".. it's so much confusing. Pls help me with that.
3 Answers
Hello Sunny,
Welcome to our Spanishdict community forum. 
You asked:
When I searched the meaning of "son" on internet it showed it means "they are".But when I searched "ustedes son mujeres" it was translated into"you are women".. it's so much confusing. Pls help me with that.
Son can mean/ be translated to mean both you are and they are 
This can seem puzzling and confusing when you are learning to speak a new language like Spanish. Please don't worry about it, you will get used to it with time and practice!
Usually, the context should make it clear, whether you are reading text or if you are listening to somebody talk or a recorded dialogue on a C.D
If you are writing text or speaking and it is not clear from the context who son refers to, you can use the personal pronouns ustedes or vosotros (Spain) to clarify the situation where it is ambiguous: where it could potentially refer to either/both but not at the same time!
ex 1 Jorge y Juan son hermanos = George and John are brothers.
But...
They are my brothers but you are my best friends!
= ¡Ellos son mis hermanos pero ustedes son mis mejores amigos!
No need for personal pronouns in the first example since son can only mean: (they) are brothers but son could mean you or they in the second example!
I hope this helps
Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor
"Ser" is an irregular verb, however the same rule applies, that is, that the third person singular and the third person plural forms are the same in all verbs.
Yo soy
Tú eres
él/ella/ usted es (also used with a person's name or a person word like "mujer.)
Nosotros somos
Vosotros sois
Ellos/ellas/ustedes son
Although "usted" and "ustedes" are considered "second person singular and plural" respectively, in Spanish they are taken from the archaic forms of "vuestra merced" and "vuestras mercedes" respectively. Similar to "your grace/graces" in English which definitely are third person.
"Son", from "ser" is like saying 'they are" or "you are". "You are" as in "You folk", "You all", Y'all". Once you get used to it, it's a cinch. It's plural...you're speaking of more than one thing or person.
