Tú y Usted

[Beto]

Not being a native Spanish speaker, I have trouble identifying with when to use tú and usted forms. I understand that usted is a way of showing respect, but the instances of use are fuzzy to me. For example, tú o usted:

1. A teacher in class talking to students on the first day of class.

2. A guest staying at a host's house and they have never met previously.

3. A 50 year-old student being taught Spanish by a 24 year-old teacher.

4. A father to his children.

5. Children to their parents.

6. An older man talking with a 30-something man or woman in a park, whom he has met for the first time that afternoon.

What do you think?

[CrOtALiTo]

In the second choice.

I believe that should take the word Usted.

Un invitado espera en la casa de huespedes, y usted nunca me conocio previamente?

I'm not very sure about my answer, I'd like to wait to everyone answer these questions for me.

[pjt33]

It varies immensely between different Spanish-speaking cultures, generations, contexts, ...

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Beto

Not being a native Spanish speaker, I have trouble identifying with when to use tú and usted forms. I understand that usted is a way of showing respect, but the instances of use are fuzzy to me. For example, tú o usted:

1. A teacher in class talking to students on the first day of class. Ustedes (plural)

2. A guest staying at a host's house and they have never met previously. Usted.

3. A 50 year-old student being taught Spanish by a 24 year-old teacher. Usted (unless they get to know fairly well and they aree to address each other as tú (tutear), if not, with time maybe the student will address the teacher as tú in informal situations but revert to usted during formal situations)

4. A father to his children. Tú and ustedes (plural)

5. Children to their parents. Depends on the parents. (My mom never allowed me to addressed her as tú and much less like my "old lady" which in my time was the ideal of a modern (cool) mother...)

6. An older man talking with a 30-something man or woman in a park, whom he has met for the first time that afternoon. Usted, although some old people like to take to opportunity to be more familiar and hence a bit disrespectful.

What do you think?

[irmamar]

Yo a todos de tú

[Beto]

Thanks for your help. Couple more questions:

If one is staying with a family for a week or two, how long before they use the tú form? Should the host or the guest initiate the request to use the tú form?

Would a person of 60 + years always use the tú form when speaking with people in their 20s/30s, or is there also a period of getting more familiar before using it?

[CrOtALiTo]

It's not necessary always, because it depends of the education to has the person in question.

Therefore a person with more than 60 years old can speaks with a younger people without uses the word Usted.

For instance.

Hello Mr.

Have you angry, if you want, I can go for something to eat.

Hola. Si tienes hambre puedo ir por algo de comer.

Hola. Si tiene hambre puedo ir por algo de comer.

If you ca see the different between the two sentences they aren't completely same.

[Beto]

I see, but my understanding is that (tiene) is the usted form and (tienes) is the tú form; therefore, even though the words used and tú are not used the form is in use. Does that make sense?

Let me correct that. ...even though the words "usted" and "tú" are not used, the form is in use.

[irmamar]

I think that here, in Spain, "tú" is more used than in Latin America. Usually I use the "tú" form (and I'm against the use of "usted" one). Many elder people want to be called with "tú" treatment (and it's obvious with young people). An old person would never say "usted" to young people. People in the middle age (and older) call each other "tú".

I reserve the "tú" treatment for those people who think they are important (and for formal writings, of course)

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I think that here, in Spain, "tú" is more used than in Latin America. Usually I use the "tú" form (and I'm against the use of "usted" one). Many elder people want to be called with "tú" treatment (and it's obvious with young people). An old person would never say "usted" to young people. People in the middle age (and older) call each other "tú".

I reserve the "tú" treatment for those people who think they are important (and for formal writings, of course)

You mean usted?

And you are talking about how it is used in Spain. At least in Chile, people will tell you rather in a hurry that you are mistaken, unless you happened to sleep with them last night.