Tu vs. Usted in Spanish: Big key differences & how to use them

When it comes to formal and informal pronouns in Spanish: What is the difference between tú and usted, and how important is it to use the right one?

You might have already heard that Spanish differentiates between formal and informal pronouns. They’re both used the same way the singular “you” is used in English, except that one is used when addressing people you want to show respect to, while the other is used in casual settings and people you’ve already built rapport with.

Learning how to use tú vs. usted in Spanish is actually quite easy, as all you need to do is swap the pronoun and use a different conjugation that you already know (more on that below!). The hard part is knowing when to use formal vs. informal, as using the wrong one could be embarrassing or even rude.

This is why using tú vs. usted is one of the reasons Spanish can be difficult to learn for English speakers. Learning the language requires more than just memorizing a few grammar rules, as you’ll have to understand the cultural context to navigate any situation.

Below, we’ll show you how to conjugate these verbs as well as when to use which of the two pronouns. ¡Disfrute usted!

What is the difference between tú and usted?

Tú and usted are both Spanish pronouns for the second-person singular (you). The difference is that tú is an informal pronoun, whereas usted is a formal pronoun. When learning Spanish, you will have to learn how to use both of them in different situations so you can address people appropriately.

Using tú vs. usted involves more than just swapping out the pronoun. The conjugation of the verb will also change when you use a different pronoun, as will the sentence structure in some cases. That’s why it’s important to learn how to use the informal tú and the formal usted, as it’s not as simple as just using another pronoun.

What is the difference between ustedes and vosotros?

Ustedes and vosotros are both second-person plural pronouns. You use them to address two or more people directly, like the English pronoun you (plural).

Technically, ustedes is the formal version of the pronoun and vosotros is the informal version. However, in practice, ustedes is used as both formal and informal throughout most of Latin America. Vosotros is used as the informal version of the pronoun only in Spain and Equatorial Guinea.

So, unless you are eager to learn Spanish from one of these two countries, you don’t have to worry about differentiating between formal and informal when addressing two or more people!

What is the difference between tú and vos?

Tú and vos are both second-person singular pronouns, like the English pronoun ‘you’ (singular). While they are both used for the same purpose, different regions use different pronouns. Most of the Spanish-speaking world uses tú, while only Argentina, Costa Rica, and Uruguay use vos exclusively.

However, certain regions of many Latin American countries also use vos to varying degrees. In some cases, the use of vos might be associated with class status, as it used to be considered incorrect and uncultured. Some countries that use vos in certain regions are:

• Mexico
• Cuba
• Guatemala
• Nicaragua
• Honduras
• El Salvador
• Panama
• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Ecuador
• Bolivia
• Paraguay
• Chile

It’s also worth noting that there are three types of voseo:

• Absolute: Both the pronoun and verb conjugation change. So, you use vos instead of tú and also change the conjugation of the verb to match the new pronoun.
• Verbal: The pronoun tú remains, but the verb is conjugated according to the vos pronoun.
• Pronominal: The pronoun tú changes to the pronoun vos, but the verb remains conjugated according to the tú pronoun.

What is the difference between túand tu?

You might’ve noticed that Spanish sometimes uses tú and sometimes tu. So, what’s the difference? If you’ve read our ultimate guide to Spanish accent marks, then you know that a single accent mark can change a word completely. And that’s precisely what’s going on here:

• Tú: As you know, this is the second-person singular pronoun in Spanish, equivalent to the English “you.”
• Tu: This isn’t a pronoun at all, but instead a possessive adjective. It helps establish possession, just like the English “your.”

How to conjugate verbs with tú and usted

Using these two pronouns will change the verb conjugation. Fortunately for you, you won’t have to learn any new or special conjugations when using usted, as it simply uses the third-person singular conjugation (él or ella).

Below, we’ll do a refresher on the general conjugation rules for the second-person pronouns we covered in the previous section. Of course, irregular verbs in Spanish are everywhere, so we’ll also take a look at a few of the most common conjugations at the end.

How to conjugate tú

Conjugating the second-person tú is one of the most important skills in Spanish. This is likely the person you’ll use most often as you make friends and even start conversations with strangers.

If you’ve already learned the basics of conjugating regular verbs in Spanish, then you already know that there are three types of infinitive verbs in Spanish: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each of these is conjugated slightly differently. To conjugate them in the tú person, you must:

• -ar verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -as.
• -er verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -es.
• -ir verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -es.

Here are some examples:

How to conjugate usted

Conjugating in the usted person is quite easy if you already know how to conjugate verbs in the third-person singular (él or ella). All you need to do is use the pronoun usted and the conjugation of the third-person singular! Here are the general rules:

• -ar verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -a.
• -er verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -e.
• -ir verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -e.

How to conjugate ustedes

Ustedes is the second-person plural pronoun. To conjugate verbs in this person, you will need to follow these rules:

• -ar verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -as.
• -er verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -es.
• -ir verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -es.

How to conjugate vosotros/vosotras

Vosotros is the other second-person plural adjective, which is mostly only used in Spain as an informal version of usted. However, if you’re learning Latin American Spanish, then you won’t need to worry too much about this pronoun as it is never used in Latin America.

Note that conjugating for the vosotros pronoun usually requires an accent mark. If you’re still getting used to accent marks, then we recommend giving out our guide to accent marks in Spanish a quick look.

To conjugate verbs with vosotros, you’ll want to:

• -ar verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -áis.
• -er verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -éis.
• -ir verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -ís.

How to conjugate vos

Vos is another second-person singular pronoun, so you might think to look for the verb conjugation of tú for some guidance on conjugating this. However, vos is a variation of vosotros, so you’ll want to look to that conjugation for guidance. Want an expert tip? For -ar and -er verbs, all you have to do is remove the i from the conjugation of vosotros!

Here are the guidelines for conjugating for vos:

• -ar verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -ás.
• -er verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -és.
• -ir verbs: Remove the last two letters and add -ís.

Common irregular verbs with tú and usted

Many of the most common Spanish verbs are irregular, so you won’t be able to use tú and usted appropriately if you don’t know how to conjugate them. Fortunately, just mastering a handful of irregular verbs will take you far! Here are some of the most common.

Example sentences with different pronouns

Now that you have the basics of conjugating verbs with each of the second-person pronouns, let’s take a side-by-side look to see how they compare to each other.

When to use tú

Knowing how to use tú vs. usted is only one part of the problem. You also need to know when using formal vs. informal is appropriate, as being too casual can be rude and being too formal can be awkward.

Here are some situations when you can use the informal tú:

For friends and family

Of course, the people you should feel most comfortable using tú with are your friends and family members. Anyone you feel a close relationship with and is also on the same social or bureaucratic level as you is probably safe to refer to as tú.

Note that some parts of Latin America will use the formal usted to refer to older family members, particularly in rural communities. This is a tradition that has been passed on as a way to show respect, so don’t be surprised if you see people refer to their parents by usted.

You can generally use tú to refer to your:

• Friends
• Classmates
• Parents
• Siblings
• Cousins

Here are some example sentences. Note that the pronoun tú is often skipped as Spanish is a null-subject language. So, you can infer that the tú pronoun is being used based on the conjugation of the verb.

For children

You can use tú when talking to children and, by extension, anyone younger than you. The only exception is if you’d like to use formal pronouns ironically or as a term of endearment for your nieces and nephews or any small children you interact with.

For colleagues

As you’ll see below, formal language is expected when addressing your superiors at work, like your boss or the CEO. However, you’re not expected to use formal pronouns when addressing people on the same organizational level or below. In other words, just because you’re in a formal setting doesn’t mean you must use formal pronouns with everyone. In general, only use formal pronouns for people you answer to — you can use informal pronouns for everyone else.

For animals

Okay, sure, animals can’t speak Spanish, and they probably don’t mind how you refer to them. But those with pets know that a strong connection trumps any linguistic barrier. So, when you talk to your furry friends, which pronouns should you use? Informal!

Of course, you’re welcome to use the formal usted occasionally if you want to be cute or ironic, but the informal tú will be perfectly fine.

For strangers

This one’s quite controversial, as you’re gonna have to make a judgment call any time you address a stranger. You may use usted if you want to be extra polite or when dealing with older people, but you’ll want to use the informal tú when addressing people around your same age or younger.

When to use usted

Now, using usted may seem a bit intimidating at first, but now you know that all you need is a new pronoun and the conjugation for él or ella. Using usted isn’t difficult, per se, but it can be tricky to figure out when the pronoun is necessary. Below, we’ll cover some of the most common situations when you might be expected to use usted.

For older adults

You should use formal pronouns when addressing persons over 65 in pretty much all circumstances.

The only exceptions are your own parents, grandparents, and any other older people you’re directly related to. Just note that you’re still expected to use formal pronouns with your in-laws unless they explicitly request you not to!

For business superiors

Although Spanish business culture can be a bit more relaxed, you should still use formal pronouns when addressing your superiors. In many cases, they will ask you to use informal pronouns as your relationship gets closer, but you should stick to formal pronouns until and unless they specifically say informal pronouns are fine. Here are some examples:

For bureaucratic situations

Bureaucratic situations are never fun, but being extra polite can make them go a bit smoother. When you go to apply for a visa, residence permit, driver's license, or any other document, being extra polite and using the formal usted can help you save some time and avoid many headaches!

For clients

In most situations, you’ll want to address your clients with the formal usted. That goes for very high-level clients if you’re making multi-million dollar deals and also for customers at your store, like a coffee shop or a restaurant. Here are some examples:

When in doubt…

Finally, when in doubt, stick to formal pronouns! In most situations, it will be less embarrassing to be extra formal than to be a bit too casual. Plus, if the other person is comfortable with informal pronouns, they will let you know!

It’s also common to use formal pronouns when the identity of the other person is unknown, such as when making or answering a phone call. For example, if you call an unknown number, you might want to use formal pronouns until you confirm who you’re speaking to.

FAQs about formality in Spanish

How do you know when to use formal vs. informal in Spanish?

There is no hard-and-fast rule on when to use formal vs. informal language in Spanish. You will have to make a judgment call based on factors like age, relationship, and social standing. Different countries also have different customs (as do different regions within the same country!), so you’ll also have to take clues from locals.

The best way to become an expert in formal vs. informal Spanish is to immerse yourself in the language. If you have the chance, travel to or even move to one of the Spanish-speaking countries to get the experience necessary to navigate cultural situations like these. Will you make a few mistakes along the way? Of course! But don’t let that stop you — each faux pas is getting you closer to Spanish mastery.

How do you ask someone to speak informally to you in Spanish?

As you communicate more and more with Spanish speakers, you will invariably end up in a situation where someone addresses you with formal pronouns. You may ask them to address you informally if you feel like your relationship has developed enough trust or if you’re simply a more laid-back person and don’t wanna bother with formalities. Whatever the case, you may use any of the following expressions to ask someone to use informal pronouns when referring to you.

There’s also a common expression used to refer to the act of using informal pronouns: tutear. It just takes the pronoun tú and modifies it to act as a noun.

Note that it’s generally frowned upon to ask if you may use informal pronouns to refer to someone. If you use formal pronouns to refer to someone, you should continue doing so until and unless they ask you to stop.

Is “¿Cómo está?” formal or informal?

Asking ¿Cómo está? is the most common formal way of asking asking “How are you?” in Spanish. It is actually short for ¿Cómo está usted?, but the adjective can be omitted since Spanish is a null-subject language.

Don’t get tripped up by tú vs. usted in Spanish!

At the end of the day, using the formal vs. the informal pronoun in Spanish shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Of course, getting the pronoun right is important, but remember: when in doubt, use the formal pronoun! If you’ve already built a relationship with the other person, then they won’t hesitate to ask you to use the informal pronoun. Simple as that!

For more helpful tips about learning Spanish, check out our Spanish blog. We publish all kinds of helpful guides in Spanish, like our guide to using the upside-down question mark and our guide to demonstrative adjectives in Spanish. We have dozens of (free!) articles, so browse our library and choose the ones you like best!