When and How to Use Usted in Spanish [Tú vs Usted / Informal vs Formal]

Spanish speakers use tú and usted, to express formality. Both words mean “you.” However, Tú is less formal than usted. Use tú when you're talking to someone of the same age, the same rank, or the same educational level as you. Use usted for everyone else.

Still confused about when to use the "Usted" form in Spanish? In this video, we'll teach you everything you need to know about how and when to use the formal "Usted" form.

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[luciadelrio]

I don´t know in other countries but here is Spain, we mostly use the informal you "tú" for everyone in exception of teachers and the eldest people you don´t know (just for being respectful)
Nowadays people mostly refer to their grandparents with "tú" not with "usted" and we use TÚ for almost everyone.

[zac]

Wow thank you so much for this video I have been trying to learn Spanish and have been learning/using tú exclusively. So when I saw usted it really threw me for a loop.

[demonschnauzer]

Usted versus tu (sorry I don't know how to put accent on this keyboard) is definitely something I feel I did not get everyone practice in in Spanish classes. I feel like most of the time, we just defaulted to using 'tu'. Now, I'm in an environment where I sometimes have to speak Spanish and I'm really wishing I got more of a hang of saying "usted" than thinking "tu" = "you" 100% of the time.

[StephaneCalabrese]

I am not a native Spanish speaker but I live in Colombia and I found it funny how people are switching from Usted to tú back and forth. For instance, in a shop or restaurant, you will definitely start addressing the clerk or waiter with Usted. But you may end up asking for the bill saying "me traes la cuenta por favor". In a family, parents will use Tu with their kids, but if they want to say something more seriously, be it complaining, arguying, or giving a piece of advice, they may switch to Usted. Some kids say Usted to their parents, some say Tú but even in the latter case, kids will switch to Usted when they want to ask for permission. In the street, you will definitely use Usted to answer to a beggar. Usted is mostly used to show respect, but it can also be used to add up a little bit of distance. It is a very subbtle thing and it took me quite a time to use it adequately. Plus in Colombia, at least in some regions, you can add up to the complexity throwing in the "Vos"form.

[drxppy_kid]

Thank you I needed this to complete my work for Spanish🙏🏾

[spinky]

My grandmother is from Colombia, but she address everybody and all ages with usted. She never says tu. Idk why.

[mep]

Hola. Buen video. Soy de Argentina y uso el usted como lo dijeron ustedes en su vídeo. En vez de tú, uso vos. A menos que la persona tenga mi edad, cerca o menos, trato a todos de usted y en lugares públicos, al principio prefiero decir usted y luego veo si me paso al vos, a menos que sea joven y de entrada él/ella me diga vos. Si tuviera suegros obviamente les diría usted. Y a los familiares siempre les digo vos. Saludos.

[Kingpowch]

I speak Spanish from Argentina and I find it very archaic and old-fashioned to address a parent with "Usted". It used to be common 50 or 100 years ago but nowadays it is not used, you just simply use "tú" or "vos".
Hardly ever will you find a Spanish-Speaker (at least in the south) addressing a parent with Usted.
For instance, in my country we do not use tú, instead we say "vos" as informal which replaces tú.

Vos - Tú= You (singular informal)
Usted= You (singular formal).
Vosotros= You (plural informal *only in Spain*)
Ustedes= You (plural informal-formal)

[juanguentenguea.gonzalez]

Thank u for your things for saying tu and usted I appreciate you all to say those two things respectfully

[stevendelaluz]

I’m from Mexico but we normally use the tu form even with family members older. I find it hard to speak with my Ecuadorian side of the family because it’s different ways of talking.

[CowayneComarcho]

That was helpful. When do you use the word tienes and tiene?

[Nelson_]

The use of "usted" may vary from country to country, or even regions within a country. Please, if you're a non-native Spanish speaker, use "usted" to address ANYONE (unless they're children or teens) you meet for the first time. It makes you come across as polite, and well-mannered. I personally hate being addressed with "tú" by strangers. In my head, I'm like "I don't know you like that", but again, that's something cultural.

[invasorCELESTIAL]

Muy buen video, muy informativo. Lo de “usted” es algo muy curioso, en el caso de mi familia mi hermano mayor y yo llamamos por “usted” a mi mama pero mi hermana menor la tutea y aveces me pongo a pensar y debe ser porque es la menor y es mujer y ademas es quien pasa mas tiempo con ella, al menos yo nunca me he sentido comodo en tutear a mi mama aunque ella nunca nos ha exigido que la llamemos de usted, aun asi tutearla me hace sentir como si le estuviera faltando el respeto.
Me gusta mucho el contenido de su canal, ya me suscribi y espero que sigan creciendo mucho, saludos desde Carolina del Norte 👍

[amyash]

I am going to use this video with my students. Thank you.

[lissetjm]

Súper útil! Me encantó el vídeo, me estaba costando mucho trabajo explicarle el tú y usted a mi novio! Le está echando muchas ganas a sus lecciones de español y su vídeo lo ayudó mucho a comprender! Muchas gracias!!

[CHINOYako]

Hola, Cuando pueda, porfavor may i request for a video about pure Formal Spanish only video for Office situations or Job application set up. muchas Gracias !!!

[jasonusaf]

So I have a question…if I wanted to practice Spanish with a stranger, would the usted form be used in question? For example, would I say “Puedo practicar español con usted?” Or, would i say “Puedo practicar español contigo?” Is contigo informal?

[catchthewave]

That was so good thanks a ton for posting this video

[ianh]

If you think back about 40 years in the US, it was common for kids to ALWAYS address adults by Mr and Mrs. Also you would address your boss, landlord, or anyone you didn’t know by Mr or Mrs. (I actually like that better than todays informality - when telemarketers or other strangers call me by my first name my first thought is always “who are you to call me by my first name”)

But anyway, if you remember those days, that’s a good way to think of how to use Usted vs Tú. A “Mr or Mrs” would be Usted, a first name basis would be tú

[heartbeat]

Thank you. It is similar to German. We also have two forms: Sie and du. And it is used in a similar way.