Spanish/Tú-usted

In Spanish, as in many languages, there are two ways of addressing people, one of them familiar and the other formal. In English this is achieved by the use of first names or last names.

Tú is used for people with whom you're familiar. For example, friends and acquaintances would be referred to as tú. So would children, pets, and, usually, all family members.

Usted, which is more formal, is used for people older than you, authority figures, strangers, and people you are meeting for the first time. In parts of Colombia usted is widely used, even among friends.


 * Plural
 * In most of Spain the plural of tú is vosotros and the plural of usted is ustedes.
 * In Andalusia and all of Spanish America, the plural of tú is ustedes, i.e., plural second person doesn't differentiate between familiar and formal form of address.

* Depends a lot on the country