In English, whether you are addressing a group of people who are being addressed in a formal or informal manner, you will use the same word “You“.

In Spanish, depending on whether you are addressing a group of people in a formal or informal way, you will use different words: “Ustedes” (formal) or “Vosotros/Vosotras” (informal).

I. Informal You in Spanish

* To address a single person informally in Spanish, we use Tú: tú comes, tú hablas, tú vives, etc.
* To address a group of people informally, Vosotros or Vosotras is used: vosotros coméis, vosotros habláis, vosotros vivéis, etc.

II. Formal You in Spanish

* To address a single person formally, we use USTED (it is used as the 3rd person singular):

• Usted habla muy bien español ==> You speak Spanish very well.

* To address more than one person formally, we use USTEDES (it is used as the 3rd person plural):

• Ustedes hablan muy bien español ==> You (group) speak Spanish very well.

III. Use of the polite You in Spain and in the world

In Spain, people almost never use “usted”. In Spain, it is very common for two people who do not know each other to be on first-name terms from the very first exchange.

In Spain, for example, students use “tú” with their teachers. The use of formal address is used for very formal or official moments (for example if you are meeting a high ranking official or during a job interview).

“Usted” is much more common in Latin America in countries like Colombia. There, it is common for family members to use “usted” with each other.

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