Could you provide me with an explanation of the difference between the Spanish words "tu" and "usted"?

Question

I'm constantly confusing myself as to when which word is used.

Thanks.

Answer 1

In English, the word "you" is used for either respectul or informal speach, regarding the second person in singular or plural. But in Spanish, there is a very important difference:

The word "tú" is used in common speach, when you are adressing someone informally, for example, a friend, your partners, your family, or someone almost your age; While conjugating verbs, you use the common second person forms: Tú amas, tú amaste, tú amarás, tú amabas, tú amarías...

The word "usted" is used when respecfully adressing someone, for example, an unknown or older person. While conjugating, even though it is still a second person, it looks almost like third person (él / ella): Usted ama, usted amó, usted amará, usted amaba, usted amaría...

So this is the clue: when respectully talking, use "usted"; when informally, use "tú". It would be considered unpolite to adress an older or unknown person using "tú", unless this person accepts to (in Spanish, this is called "Tuteo, or tutearse")

Please note the word "tú", as pronoun, must have the written accent; otherwise, it becomes a posessive adjecive.

So, for example, since I do not know you yet, and I ignore whether you are older than I, I would be most likely to adress you like "¿Cómo está usted?, ¿Mi respuesta le ha sido de utilidad? ¿Desea usted más información?"

Espero que haya resuelto su pregunta. Suerte con el Castellano

Answer 2

Like the French "Vous," usted is used when you address someone formally. You would use it when you're talking to an older person, a stranger, a person in authority, or anyone else who should be treated with respect.

Tu is informal and used among family members, people much younger than you are, and close friends. A good rule of thumb is if you don't know the person very well, use the formal until they tell you otherwise. It's considered the politest approach, and you usually can't go wrong that way.

Answer 3

first of all, there is not any such situation as a quadro in Spanish. you will on no account see a qu accompanied by employing an a! The be conscious is CUADRO and it skill sq.. that's used for a city block, something it somewhat is sq., the expression for plaid or checkered or checked is a cuadros (with squares). it fairly is used (hardly, actual) for some thing it somewhat is in a physique...a portray, a photo, a drawing, a photo...whether it fairly is many times translated, then as "photograph". A portray is a paintings of paintings (which could be framed, and made right into a cuadro) made with oil or tempera or watercolor paints. Dibujo skill drawing. la foto is a photo. Retrato is a portrait (and could be of many media) No. they do no longer the two recommend "portray" according to se...there is that shade of distinction in utilization. that's like photograph vs portray in English. a photo could be many stuff. A portray is painted.

Answer 4

Tu and usted both mean you, but usted is more formal. It is used with elders or people that you respect.

Answer 5

tu is when you know the person on a personal level. Usted is when you are just meeting the person, or professionally, or an elder.

Answer 6

Tú=Informal...4 friends, family...

Usted=Formal...4 adults, people u don't know or people who deserves(?) respect.

Answer 7

The 'tu' form means 'you.' and ends with -as or -es.
Usted is he or she formal. ends with -a or -e

Examples:
Hablar is to speak
yo(I)- Habl +o hablo
tu(you)- Habl+as hablas
el/ella/usted(he/she) - Habl+a habla
Nosotros(you and i/we)-Habl+amos hablamos
Vosotros(you all)- Habl+ais hablais
ellos/ellas/usted(they/the girls..boys)Habl+an Hablan

Answer 8

Tú - It's informal
Usted - It's way more formal.

In English, both are written "you".