How to Use tú, usted and vos in Spanish

Zeph Snapp

7 years ago

How to Use tú, usted and vos in Spanish

Have you ever wonder the difference between usted and tú? What about vos?

Spanish is a very complex language. The usage of the words changes in each country. Therefore, adapting your content to the Spanish language is harder because meaning, usage, and connotations of certain words vary from one country to another— even from region to region.

Consider that tú, usted and vos all mean “you” in English.

For example, using vos is quite common throughout Argentina. Travel north to Mexico, however, and vos suddenly sounds quite foreign, for it’s only used by the small indigenous population that borders Guatemala. In Mexico you would use tú instead.

When should you use usted?

You should use usted if you are talking to an elderly person, if the person you are talking with is a stranger, or if you are not sure how to address to the other person.

Is usted formal?

To give a general answer, yes. But the use of usted goes beyond formal and informal speaking. Using tú or usted depends on a variety of different factors, like the people you are talking with, his or her age, country, the circumstances and the context of the conversation. You can even be formal using tú.

What is the difference between tu and su?

Su and tu are possessive pronouns or determiners that can mean “your”. Their difference is the same as the difference between tú and usted. Tu, then, is used with people whom you’d address as tú, while su is used with people you’d address as usted. (You should never write tu with accent mark when using it as a possessive pronoun or determiner, while when using it as personal pronoun might and might not need the accent mark depending of the context.

The following infographic will help teach you the correct way to use tú, usted and vos in countries with Spanish as an official language and Puerto Rico, which is US territory.

How to Use tú, usted and vos in Spanish

Mexico

Tú: common, informal
Usted: common, formal and professional
Vos: uncommon, except in rural regions of the states of Tabasco, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. *

* Mainly used by indigenous population

Guatemala

Tú: common, formal and professional*
Usted: common, formal between people with different gender, age or authority
Vos: common, informal between people of similar age and gender

* Tú is frequent among women in professional settings, but frowned upon between men

El Salvador

Tú: occasional, semi-formal (used between acquaintances or casual friends)
Usted: common, formal and professional (e.g. workplace, teacher-student relationship, etc.)
Vos: common, informal and familiar (considered trustworthy or vulgar depending on relationship)

Honduras

Tú: common, moderately formal but frowned upon between men
Usted: common, formal
Vos: common, informal (considered familiar or trustworthy)

Nicaragua

Tú: very uncommon (used in literary discourse, as well as in friendly correspondence between middle class people)
Usted: common, formal (especially as a show of respect to public figures, adults & the elderly)
Vos: common between family and friends*

*Also used in commercial and literary markets to build trust

Costa Rica

Tú: practically nonexistent, considered pedantic
Usted: uncommon, formal
Vos: common, general use

Panama

Tú: common, general use
Vos: common in the west and interior of the Peninsula of Azuero

Cuba

Tú: common, general use
Vos: uncommon and slowly disappearing*

* More widespread in the mountainous regions, countryside & among the elderly

Dominican Republic

Tú: general use
Vos: practically nonexistent (only used rhetorically and in ancient or liturgical writings)

Puerto Rico

Tú: common, informal
Usted: common, formal
Vos: common at the eastern end of the island, but not used by educated speakers

Colombia

Tú: common on the Caribbean coast
Usted: common, rest of the country
Vos: common in the west & northeastern parts of the country (e.g. paisa region, etc.)

Ecuador

Tú: common throughout most of Ecuador, except the north and central mountains.
Vos: common in the north and central mountains

Venezuela

Tú: common in most of the country.
Vos: limited to specific geographical areas such as the Andean territories and the states of Zulia, Lara and Yaracuy. Use is generally rural or colloquial.

Peru

Tú: common between close relatives
Usted: common, moderately formal
Vos: formal, used exclusively in the north and south of Perú

Bolivia

Tú: generally used in institutions or companies, used mainly in the west of the country
Vos: generally used in the east of the country and fully used in Tupiza, western Tarija, and in select regions (Villa Abecia, Camargo, Chuquisaca, southern Chichas, and others)

Paraguay

Tú: practically nonexistent
Vos: common, general use

Chile

Tú: common, formal (in cultured speech)
Vos: common, informal (familiar, colloquial and vulgar speech)

Argentina

Tú: practically nonexistent
Vos: common, universal and accepted at all social levels

Uruguay

Tú: uncommon, used primarily in regions like Rocha, Rivera and cities bordering with Brasil
Vos: common, general use

Spain

Tú: common, general use
Vos: practically nonexistent (only used rhetorically and in ancient or liturgical writings)

Equatorial Guinea

Tú: common, general use
Vos: practically nonexistent (only used rhetorically and in ancient or liturgical writings)

United States

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the USA and it’s officially recognized in many jurisdictions in the Southwest. However, because the USA’s Spanish-speaking population has emigrated from different countries around the world, the correct use tú, usted and vos varies depending on region and/or country of origin.

Sources: