
In Spain, usted (singular) and ustedes (plural) are used, as well, but only for more formal occasions, or occasions where respect must be shown. So, if you meet the Pope while in Spain, be sure to use the usted form. In other Spanish-speaking countries, however, vosotros is never (or rarely) used.
How do you use vosotros and ustedes in Spain?
The Museum of Knowledge explains how to use vosotros and ustedes in Spain and Latin America. In Spain, language speakers often omit vosotros (you plural informal) from verbal communication. In its place, the polite form ustedes (you plural formal) is more common in spoken language. Vosotros or ustedes?
How often do you use the words Usted and ustedes?
Usted (abbreviated ud.) and ustedes (abbreviated uds.) are formal (non-peer, non-famliar) words for you singular and plural respectively. To answer your question, usted and ustedes would be used as often as there arise formal situations of people addressing each other.
Why do Spanish people say ‘usted’ instead of usted?
My understanding at this point is that, instead of viewing the ‘ usted ’ form as a sign of respect and esteem, Spanish people sometimes take offense (both comically and seriously), insinuating that you think they’re old and irrelevant when you use this form with them.
What is the difference between familiar and ustedes in Spanish?
You should always assume to use usted rather than tú until the Spanish speaker indicates that the familiar (tú) is acceptable. Now for simplicity's sake think of ustedes as the plural you (2 or more people spoken to) under the same circumstances as you would use usted with one person.

Where is ustedes used in the world?
In most of Spain the plural of tú is vosotros and the plural of usted is ustedes. In Andalusia and all of Spanish America, the plural of tú is ustedes, i.e., plural second person doesn't differentiate between familiar and formal form of address.
How is Vosotros used in Spain?
Vosotros is a Spanish personal pronoun used to refer to the second person plural in Spain. It's also a gender-neutral pronoun, which applies to feminine and masculine subjects together. If you're referring to only female plural subjects, you use vosotras.
Should I use Vosotros or ustedes?
“Vosotros” is typically the informal use of the word “You all.” It's the correct word to use when you're talking to your peers or in casual situations. “Ustedes” is a little trickier. It is used in all Spanish speaking countries and can be used in a formal and informal manner.
Is usted used in Spain or Latin America?
Even in Spain one may rarely hear vosotros spoken, but usted is often heard used in both Spain and Latin America. For those language learners who read more classic books/ novels however they will definitely see vosotros in both Spain and Latin America used abundantly.
Why doesnt Latin America use Vosotros?
"Vosotros" is not used because it is not useful outside of Spain. However, most conjugation tables include it, probably because it makes the whole personal pronoun structure of the language very symmetrical.
Does Mexico use usted?
In nearly all the service trades in Mexico, the formal usted is the preferred usage in conversations between the provider and the customer, whether it's at the corner shop, in a restaurant, a taxi, or at the hairdressers.
Does Mexican Spanish use Vosotros?
When using the formal version, use the “usted” (singular) or “ustedes” (plural) form. In Mexico, it's not necessary to differentiate. The same goes for the second-person plural (used when addressing a group, such as “you all”). In Spain, you should use “vosotros,” whereas in Mexico you use “ustedes.”
How do you say they in Spain?
In order to say “they” in Spanish you will say:They = Ellos [masculine or mixed]They = Ellas [feminine]
Is vos and Vosotros the same?
Vos and vosotros are actually completely different. Vos is singular and vosotros is plural.” The longer answer requires a bit of background.
Is ustedes formal?
Using Usted Usted is the formal “you.” The plural is ustedes, which is used in both formal and informal situations. The object pronoun for usted is lo or la (used to simplify sentences like “I called you,” so that llamado a usted becomes lo llamado or la llamado, depending on the gender of the person being addressed).
Is ustedes formal in Latin America?
An Intro to Spanish Second-person Pronouns The plural forms are vosotros/vosotras (informal men or mixed groups/a group of all women) and ustedes (formal, group). Latin America is the same, except that vosotros typically isn't used. Ustedes is used for the plural “you” in all cases.
What is the difference between "usted" and "vosotros"?
And in Spain... "vosotros" = group of friends. "Ustedes" = any formal group. And "usted" is still used in Spain for talking formally to any one person. updated Jul 29, 2014.
Can you use "ustedes" in Spain?
Sure... you can't always be informal when talking to multiple people, so if you were talking to say, two bosses in a formal work setting, you would still use "ustedes" in Spain.
What does "ustedes" mean in Spanish?
Vosotros or ustedes? It is more common both in Spain and in Latin American to remove vosotros from dialogue altogether, meaning that a phrase such as “tenéis la opción de seguir adelante” (you have the choice to move forward) is spoken in the same way in both Spain and Latin America.
Where do you use "ustedes" and "vosotros"?
The Museum of Knowledge explains how to use vosotros and ustedes in Spain and Latin America. In Spain, language speakers often omit vosotros (you plural informal) from verbal communication.
Is Spanish a flowery language?
Spanish is a very long flowery language, with sentences always particularly long compared to Germanic languages such as English so it would not be surprising if Spanish speakers remove the word vosotros from their verbal communication to save time!
Is "usted" spoken in Spain?
Even in Spain one may rarely hear vosotros spoken, but usted is often heard used in both Spain and Latin America. For those language learners who read more classic books/ novels however they will definitely see vosotros in both Spain and Latin America used abundantly.
2. When to use it
So, in Spain they use both ustedes and vosotros. The deciding factor is the level of formality that you want to convey. In Spain, vosotros is informal and ustedes is formal, while in Latin America, ustedes is both formal and informal.
4. The history of it all
Now, why do we have so many words to say “you”? Two in singular and two in plural. Why does it change according to different regions?
2. There is a difference between vosotros and ustedes
Essentially, these two pronouns mean very similar things, though one is more formal and the other is not. Vosotros being the more informal plural form of “you all” is frequently used in everyday conversation, with kids, with friends, with pets, and so forth.
3. Vosotros is not widely taught
Are you having trouble recalling learning this subject pronoun in all those Spanish classes from your younger years? Well, there’s a reason for that! Most Spanish teachers of English students may not be familiar with vosotros, and have just not taught it in the past.
4. Vosotros is prevalent in Spain
Vosotros is present in any context where 1) there is more than one person, and 2) the occasion is less formal. According to a Madrileña with whom I recently spoke, the usted/ustedes form would be appropriate when speaking in an entrevista (interview), con un jefe (with a boss), or in similar situations.
