French · Greetings & Essentials
"You" in French: tu
tu
Note: formal or plural: vous
You in French is tu with friends, family, and peers, and vous for strangers, older people, or groups. Tutoyer means to use tu; vouvoyer means to use vous.
Texting a friend
Tu viens ce soir ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tu
Say it
tew / voo
/ty/ /vu/
Tu is like English too but shorter: tew. Vous rhymes with French doux: voo.
"You" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tu | you (informal singular) Friends, family, kids, equals. | Friends, family, kids, equals. |
| vous | you (formal or plural) Politeness or more than one person. | Politeness or more than one person. |
| tutoyer | to use tu with someone On se tutoie ? | On se tutoie ? |
| vouvoyer | to use vous with someone Stay polite. | Stay polite. |
How to use tu in real life
- 1Texting a friend
Tu viens ce soir ?
Are you coming tonight?
Tu + verb.
- 2Sharing food
Tu veux un morceau de gâteau ?
Do you want a piece of cake?
Tu veux.
- 3Checking plans
Tu as déjà réservé la table ?
Have you already booked the table?
Tu as.
Mistakes English speakers make with tu
Incorrect: Vous (to a close friend every time).
Correct: Tu with close friends.
Vous can sound distant among peers who already use tu.
Incorrect: Tu (to a police officer you just met).
Correct: Vous in first formal contact.
Start with vous unless invited to use tu.
Good to know
On se tutoie ? is how adults switch. Shops and offices often keep vous. Kids and classmates use tu fast. Address the app reader as tu, as ChatPal does.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Making weekend plans
ChatPal
Tu es libre samedi ?
Are you free Saturday?
You
Oui, tu as une idée ?
Yes — do you have an idea?
ChatPal
On peut aller au marché.
We could go to the market.
You
Super, je te retrouve à dix heures.
Great, I'll meet you at ten.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"You" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "You" in French
How do you say you in French?
Tu (informal) or vous (formal/plural).
When do I use tu?
Friends, family, kids, and people who invited you to.
When do I use vous?
Strangers, formal settings, or talking to more than one person.
What is on se tutoie?
Shall we use tu with each other?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
