What is the English equivilant of the Spanish word usted?

Question

I don't think there is one but it would be nice if there was. It would make using good grammer esier. A common English grammar mistake is saying "they" for a singular pronoun when the gendar is unknow; this is an example "Somebody left their book on the desk, whose is it?" The correct way to say this is "Somebody left his/her book on the desk." Some people just say "he" as a default when the gendar is unknown, and I'v also heard of "she" being used as a default. While these would be gramaticaly correct people almost never talk like that, it would be a lot less confusing to say "usted" don't you agree?

Answer 1

The word "you" used in Shakespeare's times.
They used for the second person singular, to talk to someone very close, a relative, a friend, the expression: "thou" which is not used anymore in present english .
Now the word "you" is used for practically everybody

Answer 2

The word you in English used to have the same meaning as usted in that it was once the formal was of addressing someone. In fact it is closer to the French 'Vous' as it expressed both the concept of formality and of a plural. Thou was the informal mode of address but gradually fell from use and is now archaic (it's use declined around the time of Shakespeare). The fact that English does not have different levels of formality has been seen as a reason for its success as a ligua franca.

Usted cannot be used in the way you describe above-it is used for addressing a person directly not for describing books left on desks. It is not incorrect to use 'they' as a singular gender neutral pronoun. However, if you are really worried about offending the gender-political beliefs of some person, I suggest judicious use of the passive voice.

Answer 3

Why don't you just say "Somebody left a book on the desk" ?
Or you could just say his- I know it's not politically correct, but it would work. It's not like it would be offensive.
I thought the word usted meant sir or madam (or something very similiar) I've only used it to address a particular person.
(I'm not hispanic, I'm just talking about what I've learned in spanish classes)

Answer 4

As a veteran linguist, I agree with you! Guess what? I have good news and bad news for you on this subject!

Southerners in the USA had their chance to resolve this issue with their introduction into the Americanglican language of the second person plural pronoun " y'all " !

The bad news is this: The meaning of " y'all " has become diluted and is now used in both the singular and plural.

Too bad, y'all....

Answer 5

"You" is the closest word. Usted is a subjunctive form of a third person, almost a deferrral, a respectful way of not addressing someone directly. Such directness in adressing someone is probably considered ill mannered and vulgar.

Answer 6

In latin america Usted is used to represent "You" when talking to someone you are not familiar with or to someone who is your elder, like your friend's parents etc. In Spain, the rules are more relaxed, but Usted is still used.

Answer 7

Usted, in the Spanish language, is the more formal word for "you". It should be used when first meeting someone or if it is someone you are not well acquainted with.

Answer 8

"Usted" simply means "You", in the formal sense. The person being addressed as "usted" is either not known familiarly, or is someone who must be addressed in a more formal sense, like saying "Sir" or "Ma'am".

The informal context of "YOU", used with close friends and family, is "Tu`.

Answer 9

Hasta Luego is "so long" Adios "so long" Nos Vemos "see you" Como te llamas "What´s your call" Me llamo "my call is" don´t attempt to translate note for note because it makes no experience, learn those words as an entire. "te" "se" "me" are reflexive pronouns similar because the English Myself your self Itself Spanish has reflexive pronouns and typically makes use of them in words the position English does not. The reflexive pronoun nonetheless refers decrease back to the issue of the sentence. Me levanté a las seis. I were given up at six. Se lava los dientes. He brushes his tooth.

Answer 10

Usted is indeed the formal form of "you", but I think you already know that. It takes the verb endings corresponding to "it" and, as far as I know, comes from something meaning "your honour". So if you ask, "Como esta?" instead of "Como estas?" you are saying, "How is it?" meaning how is your honour?