Tú or usted? quiz
Both mean “you”. Tú is informal, usted is polite. Pick the right one for each situation and see the same sentence both ways.
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You are talking to… A friend your age at a party
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- A friend your age at a party: tú. Friends, family and people your age: always tú. ¿Qué quieres beber?
- An elderly neighbour you have just met: usted. Older people you do not know well get usted, especially at first. ¿Cómo está?
- The waiter in a busy café in Madrid: tú. In Spain most people use tú with waiters and shop staff of any age; usted is fine too, just more formal. ¿Me pones un café?
- A police officer asking for your passport: usted. Officials, police and anyone with authority: usted. ¿Necesita mi pasaporte?
- Your new boss on the first day: usted. Start with usted with a boss. If they answer with tú, you can switch. ¿Tiene un minuto?
- A child asking you for directions: tú. Children always get tú. ¿Te has perdido?
- Your doctor: usted. Doctors are usually usted, although many young doctors in Spain use tú. ¿Qué me recomienda?
- A classmate in your Spanish course: tú. Classmates are peers: tú. ¿Vienes mañana?
- A stranger in the street, about 70 years old: usted. Age plus no relationship: usted is the polite default. Perdone, ¿tiene hora?
- The hotel receptionist in Mexico City: usted. In Mexico and most of Latin America, usted is normal with service staff. ¿Puede llamar un taxi?
- Your partner’s parents, meeting them for the first time: usted. A first meeting with the in-laws: usted shows respect. They will tell you if tú is fine. Encantado de conocerle.
- A market seller in Spain about your age: tú. At the market in Spain tú is common and friendly. ¿Cuánto cuestan las manzanas? ¿Me pones dos?
- A judge in court: usted. The most formal situations are always usted. Lo siento, no le entiendo.
- Your dog: tú. Pets, of course, get tú. ¡Ven aquí!
- A customer in the shop where you work: usted. Staff usually start with usted with customers, more so with older ones. ¿Le puedo ayudar?
- Someone you met on a language exchange app: tú. Informal online chats between people learning together: tú. ¿De dónde eres?
The short rule
Use tú with friends, family, children, pets and people your age in relaxed places. Use usted with older people you do not know, officials, and anyone you would call “Sir” or “Madam” in English. If you are not sure, start with usted: the other person will often say “puedes tutearme” (you can use tú with me).
Usted takes the same verb form as él and ella: tú tienes, usted tiene. That is why “¿Me pones un café?” (tú) and “¿Me pone un café?” (usted) differ by one letter.
Spain vs Latin America
Spain uses tú a lot, even with waiters, shop staff and many doctors. In Mexico, Colombia and most of Latin America usted is more common with strangers and service staff, and in some places (parts of Colombia and Costa Rica) people use usted even with friends. In Argentina and Uruguay the informal form is “vos”.
For more than one person, Spain says vosotros (informal) and ustedes (formal); Latin America uses ustedes for both.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between tú and usted?
Both mean “you”. Tú is informal (friends, family, people your age). Usted is formal and polite (older strangers, officials, a new boss). Usted uses the él/ella verb form: tú hablas, usted habla.
Should I use tú or usted with a waiter?
In Spain most people use tú with waiters. In Mexico and most of Latin America, use usted. Usted is never rude, so it is the safe choice when travelling.
Is it rude to use tú?
With friends it is normal. With an older stranger or an official it can sound too familiar. Spaniards are relaxed about it, especially with learners, so do not worry about small slips.
How do I know when to switch to tú?
When the other person uses tú with you, or says “puedes tutearme” or “háblame de tú”. You can also ask: “¿Nos tuteamos?”.
What is “vos”?
“Vos” is the informal “you” in Argentina, Uruguay and parts of Central America, with its own verb forms: vos tenés, vos sos. It replaces tú there.
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