# When to use “tú” and “usted” in Spanish

Don’t let these pronouns get the best of you!

If you’re studying Spanish, you’ve probably already noticed that there are multiple ways to say _you_. [We’ve talked about _vosotros_](https://blog.duolingo.com/what-is-spanish-vosotros/) (which often takes the place of _ustedes_ in Spain), but what about when you’re just addressing one person?

Read on to learn the basics of _tú_, _usted_… and another important regional pronoun, _vos_!

**In this post:**

- [What’s the difference between _tú_ and _usted_?](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#what%E2%80%99s-the-difference-between-t%C3%BA-and-usted)
- [What about _vos_?](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#what-about-vos)
- [How do I know when to use _tú_, _usted_, or _vos_?](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#how-do-i-know-when-to-use-t%C3%BA-usted-or-vos)
- [What if I use the wrong pronoun?](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#what-if-i-use-the-wrong-pronoun)
- [How to conjugate _tú_, _usted_, and _vos_](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#how-to-conjugate-t%C3%BA-usted-and-vos)

## What’s the difference between _tú_ and _usted_?

Generally, tú is an **informal** way to address someone, like a close friend or family member. Meanwhile, usted is **formal**, reserved for strangers, authority figures, or anyone you need to show a little extra respect to. Other languages (including [French](https://blog.duolingo.com/why-study-french/#a-brief-tour-de-french), [German](https://blog.duolingo.com/why-learn-german-language/#what-you-need-to-know-about-german), [Japanese](https://blog.duolingo.com/japanese-politeness-formal-language/), and many others) have similar ways of addressing people based on how formal or informal the relationship is, but in English, we don’t have an easy equivalent!

💡

It’s similar to how you might say _ma’am_ or _sir_ in certain dialects of English, or call someone _Ms. Zhang_, _Mr. Stevenson_, or _Dr. López_ instead of by their first name.

_Tú_ and _usted_ also take different [verb forms](https://blog.duolingo.com/mistakes-in-spanish-for-learners/#5-spanish-verbs-conjugation). _Tú_ is conjugated in the [second-person singular](https://blog.duolingo.com/first-person-second-person/), while _usted_ is conjugated in the third-person singular. That’s because _usted_ comes from a shortened version of the phrase _vuestra merced_, literally _your mercy_, similar to phrases like _your grace_ or _your honor_!

So while you’ll say tú eres (you are) when speaking informally, you’d say usted es when speaking formally—and _es_ is the same verb you’d use when saying él es (he is) and ella es (she is).

## What about _vos_?

Vos is synonymous with _tú_: It’s a second-person singular [pronoun](https://blog.duolingo.com/what-are-pronouns/) used in informal situations. But if you’ve never heard it before, don’t fret! It’s much more common in some Spanish-speaking countries than others, and even among the countries that use _vos_, it’s sometimes limited to certain regions or contexts.

_Vos_ is most closely associated with [Argentina](https://blog.duolingo.com/spanish-dialects/#argentinian-spanish), Uruguay, and Paraguay, but you can also hear it in other regions throughout Latin America! In some places—like Argentina—it’s the most common way to say _you_, but in others it’s stigmatized as “incorrect” (even though we know [language attitudes like this](https://blog.duolingo.com/language-discrimination/) are harmful and completely arbitrary!).

_Vos_ also has different conjugations than _tú_ and _usted_ in the **present tense** and [command](https://blog.duolingo.com/just-do-it-how-to-make-commands-in-spanish/) verb forms, which we’ll discuss in more detail [at the end of this post](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#how-to-conjugate-t%C3%BA-usted-and-vos).

## How do I know when to use _tú_, _usted_, or _vos_?

There’s [a lot of variation](https://blog.duolingo.com/spanish-dialects/) in the Spanish-speaking world, so there’s no one-size-fits all answer to this question! The best way to get comfortable with these pronouns is to listen to the people around you and learn the customs of the [dialect](https://blog.duolingo.com/dialect-vs-accent-definition/) you’ll be speaking the most.

However, the table below applies to _most_ situations:

Depending on the dialect of Spanish you’re learning, you might notice that the table above differs slightly from what you’re hearing! Here are a few common exceptions:

- Costa Rican Spanish is known for being more formal than other dialects, so you might even hear close family members or spouses refer to each other as _usted_.
- Speakers in [Spain](https://blog.duolingo.com/spanish-dialects/#spain-spanish) have a reputation for using _tú_ more often than other dialects, reserving _usted_ for only the most formal interactions. However, there is variation even within Spain! Speakers in the Canary Islands and in the southern region of Andalucía often use _usted_ more than in other regions.
- Certain parts of [Colombia](https://blog.duolingo.com/spanish-dialects/#colombian-spanish) use _usted_ as a form of affection among close friends and family members.

In other words, you may come across exceptions wherever you go, which brings us to another common question…

## What if I use the wrong pronoun?

When this happens (and it almost certainly will!), don’t panic— [mistakes are a necessary part of language learning](https://blog.duolingo.com/4-language-mistakes-i-made-in-italy-and-why-they-didnt-matter/), and people will generally be understanding. Plus, since different dialects have different norms when it comes to using (or not using) _tú_, _usted_, and _vos_, even two people who have spent their whole lives speaking Spanish might not always agree on when to use which pronoun!

Here are some tips for specific situations:

**You used a formal pronoun when the informal pronoun was expected**

If you use _usted_ when the situation doesn’t call for extra formality, it might feel a little stiff, but it’s not a big deal. The person you’re talking to might even let you know you can be informal with them by saying something like Puedes tutearme (You can address me as _tú_).

**You used an informal pronoun when the formal pronoun was expected**

If you use _tú_ or _vos_ in a situation where the other person would prefer _usted_, there’s a chance they might feel like you’re speaking too casually to them, but in most cases, they’ll understand that you’re still learning. They might even hint that they’d prefer to keep things formal by referring to you as _usted_. If this happens, just switch back to _usted_, and continue the conversation normally!

**You used _vos_ in places that use _tú_, or vice versa**

Since both _vos_ and _tú_ are informal pronouns, you won’t offend anyone by swapping one with the other. However, since _vos_ is so strongly associated with specific Spanish-speaking regions, it can serve as a marker of where you’re from or where you learned Spanish. The best strategy is to listen to what’s being said around you—for example, don’t resist using _vos_ because you learned _tú_ in school if _vos_ is the pronoun you’re hearing the most!

## How to conjugate _tú_, _usted_, and _vos_

_Tú_ and _usted_ have different verb conjugations, which can give you an extra clue if you’re trying to figure out how to address someone by listening to them talk!

This is especially important since it’s common to [drop subject pronouns in Spanish](https://blog.duolingo.com/how-to-find-the-subject-in-spanish/), so paying attention to verb forms matters a lot! (For example, to say _you are tall_, you’ll often say eres alto, es alto, or sos alto instead of tú eres alto, usted es alto, or vos sos alto.)

_Tú_ conjugations usually end in _‑s_, while the _usted_ form is conjugated the same way as _él_ (he) and _ella_ (she). Meanwhile, _vos_ has a conjugation all its own, but only for two forms: the [present tense](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#present-tense) (for example, _I **am** in Mexico_) and [affirmative commands](https://blog.duolingo.com/tu-vs-usted/#affirmative-commands) (for example, _**Make** a cake!_). For all other conjugations, verbs with _vos_ are identical to verbs with _tú_!

Here are some examples of the most common verbs:

### Present tense

| _tú_ | _usted_ | _vos_ | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| eres | es | sos | _you are_<br>from infinitive _ser_ |
| estás | está | estás | _you are_<br>from infinitive _estar_ |
| tienes | tiene | tenés | _you have_<br>from infinitive _tener_ |
| haces | hace | hacés | _you make_ or _you do_<br>from infinitive _hacer_ |
| puedes | puede | podés | _you can_ or _you are able to_<br>from infinitive _poder_ |
| dices | dice | decís | _you say_ or _you tell_<br>from infinitive _decir_ |
| sabes | sabe | sabés | _you know_<br>from infinitive _saber_ |
| quieres | quiere | querés | _you want_<br>from infinitive _querer_ |

For example, here’s how you would say _You have a big house_ depending on how you’re addressing the person you’re speaking to:

- _tú_:
Tienes una casa grande.

- _usted_:
Tiene una casa grande.

- _vos_:
Tenés una casa grande.

### Affirmative commands

| Infinitive | _tú_ | _usted_ | _vos_ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ser | sé | sea | sé |
| estar | está | esté | está |
| tener | ten | tenga | tené |
| hacer | haz | haga | hacé |
| poder | puede | pueda | podé |
| decir | di | diga | decí |
| saber | sabe | sepa | sabé |
| querer | quiere | quiera | queré |

For example, to give the command _Tell the truth!_ in Spanish, here’s how it would look depending on the pronoun you’re using:

- _tú_:
¡Di la verdad!

- _usted_:
¡Diga la verdad!

- _vos_:
¡Decí la verdad!

### Negative commands

| Infinitive | _tú_ | _usted_ | _vos_ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ser | no seas | no sea | no seas<br>(or no seás)* |
| estar | no estés | no esté | no estés |
| tener | no tengas | no tenga | no tengas |
| hacer | no hagas | no haga | no hagas<br>(or no hagás)* |
| poder | no puedas | no pueda | no puedas<br>(or no podás)* |
| decir | no digas | no diga | no digas<br>(or no digás)* |
| saber | no sepas | no sepa | no sepas<br>(or no sepás)* |
| querer | no quieras | no quiera | no quieras<br>(or no querás)* |

*You’re most likely to hear these forms in certain parts of Central America that use _vos_.*

For example, to give the negative command _Don’t be selfish!_, here’s how it would look for _tú_, _vos_, and _usted_:

- _tú_ or _vos_:
¡No seas egoísta!
(or
¡No seás egoísta!
in some Central American dialects)

- _usted_:
¡No sea egoísta!

## To _tutear_ or not to _tutear_?

It’s important to know each of these verb forms if you’re learning Spanish, but learning _when_ to use them comes with practice, patience, and lots of listening!

_Special thanks to our Spanish Localization experts Gonzalo Botindari and Karina Illescas for their contributions to this post!