Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"You" in Spanish: tú
tú
Note: plural: ustedes; formal singular: usted
You in Spanish is tú for friends. Usted is polite singular. Ustedes is the plural you across Latin America.
Offering coffee
¿Tú quieres café?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce tú
Say it
too
/tu/
tú is too with a tight u. Usted is oos-TEHD. Ustedes is oos-TEH-dehs.
"You" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tú | you (informal singular) Friends, family, peers. | Friends, family, peers. |
| usted | you (formal singular) Elders, customers, polite distance. | Elders, customers, polite distance. |
| ustedes | you (plural) Latin American plural you. | Latin American plural you. |
| ¿y tú? | and you? Return question. | Return question. |
| vosotros | you plural (Spain) Castilian informal plural; these pages use ustedes. | Castilian informal plural; these pages use ustedes. |
How to use tú in real life
- 1Offering coffee
¿Tú quieres café?
Do you want coffee?
Tú with quieres is informal.
- 2Return question
Estoy bien. ¿Y tú?
I'm fine. And you?
¿Y tú? returns the question.
- 3Contrast
Yo cocino. Tú pones la mesa.
I cook. You set the table.
Tú marks who does what.
Mistakes English speakers make with tú
Incorrect: Tu quieres agua. (missing accent)
Correct: Tú quieres agua.
Subject tú needs the accent. Tu without accent means your.
Incorrect: ¿Vosotros queréis café?
Correct: ¿Tú quieres café? / ¿Ustedes quieren café?
Latin America uses tú or ustedes. Skip Castilian vosotros as your default.
Good to know
Choosing tú versus usted is about relationship. When unsure with adults, start with usted. Plural you is ustedes, not vosotros. Tú stays singular and informal.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a weekend hike
ChatPal
¿Tú puedes el sábado?
Can you do Saturday?
You
Sí. ¿Tú llevas agua?
Yes. Will you bring water?
ChatPal
Llevo dos botellas. ¿Y tú?
I'll bring two bottles. And you?
You
Yo llevo snacks.
I'll bring snacks.
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 Spanish
Tú or usted?
Tú for friends. Usted for polite distance. Match the verb form.
How do I say plural you?
Ustedes in Latin America. Spain may use vosotros.
Tú vs tu?
Tú (accent) means you. Tu means your.
Verb with tú?
Second person: tú quieres, tú tienes, tú eres.
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
Keep reading
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- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
