Tú vs usted
A1Grammar path · Lesson 7 of 86 · Stage A1 · Talking about people
Spanish has two ways to say 'you' to one person, and choosing well makes you sound polite instead of rude or stiff. Use tú with friends, family, children and people your age, and usted with strangers, older people, customers and at work. The key difference is in the verb: tú takes an -s ending (tú hablas), while usted uses the same form as él or ella (usted habla). Don't confuse usted with él: the verb is identical, so context and words like señor show who is meant. If unsure, start with usted and switch when the other person uses tú with you.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
tú + verbo terminado en -susted + verbo en forma de él/ellatú/usted + no + verbo¿(palabra interrogativa) + verbo + tú/usted?When to use it
Talking to friends, family and peers
With people you know well, children or young people your age, use tú and the verb ending in -s. The word tú is usually dropped because the ending already shows it.
Talking to strangers, elders and at work
With strangers, older people, bosses or customers, use usted with the él/ella verb form. People often keep the word usted here to sound polite.
Possessives follow tú or usted
Once you choose tú, use tu (your); with usted, use su (your). Do not mix the two in the same conversation.
The verb with tú and usted
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
Frequently asked questions
When should I use usted instead of tú?
Use usted with strangers, older people, customers and bosses. Use tú with friends, family, children and young people your age.
Why does usted take the same verb as él?
Historically usted comes from 'vuestra merced' (your grace), a third-person noun. That is why we say usted habla, just like él habla.
What is the plural of tú and usted?
In Latin America both become ustedes, used for friends and strangers alike: ustedes hablan. The vosotros form is only common in Spain.
Can I drop tú or usted from the sentence?
Tú is usually dropped because the -s ending is clear: ¿Tienes hambre?. Usted is often kept for politeness and to avoid confusion with él/ella.
Should I say tu or su for 'your'?
With tú use tu: tu casa. With usted use su: su casa.
If I am not sure, should I use tú or usted?
Start with usted. If the other person says 'puedes tutearme' or uses tú with you, you can switch to tú.