tu
Familiar Second Person Tu
Tu is the French subject pronoun for 'you' used in informal situations with one person. It is the singular, familiar form of address, contrasting with the formal or plural vous.
How It Works
The pronoun tu is essential for daily French. Here is how to become proficient in its use:
- Social Context (Tutoiement): Use tu with friends, family, children, and pets. While vous was historically used for God, modern prayer often uses tu to reflect a personal, father-like relationship. Using tu is called tutoiement. In contrast, using the formal vous is called vouvoiement.
- Verb Agreement: When tu is the subject, verbs usually end in -s (e.g., tu parles, tu finis). However, a few common verbs like pouvoir (tu peux), vouloir (tu veux), and valoir (tu vaux) end in -x.
- Singular vs. Plural: Tu is strictly singular (one person). While vous is used for groups, it is also the required formal singular form for strangers, elders, or superiors.
- Questions: In formal inversion, the verb and pronoun are swapped and must be joined by a hyphen (e.g., As-tu ? or Vas-tu ?).
- Spoken Elision: In casual speech, you may hear t'as instead of tu as. Unlike je (which must become j' before a vowel), the elision of tu is strictly informal and never mandatory. You should always write the full form tu in formal correspondence.
Examples (6)
- Tu parles français ?
Do you speak French?
Word by Word: You speak French?
A simple question using 'tu' with a regular -er verb ending in -s.
- Tu finis ton travail.
You are finishing your work.
Word by Word: You finish your work.
Demonstrates 'tu' with a regular -ir verb ending in -s.
- Tu vends ta voiture ?
Are you selling your car?
Word by Word: You sell your car?
Demonstrates 'tu' with a regular -re verb ending in -s.
- Tu peux m'aider ?
Can you help me?
Word by Word: You can me to help?
Shows the irregular -x ending used with the verb pouvoir.
- Vas-tu au cinéma ?
Are you going to the cinema?
Word by Word: Go you to the cinema?
In formal questions using inversion, the verb and 'tu' are joined by a hyphen.
- Tu es un bon chien !
You are a good dog!
Word by Word: You are a good dog!
French speakers use 'tu' when addressing animals or pets.
Common Mistakes
Using 'tu' as an object pronoun or after a preposition.
Je vois tu. / C'est pour tu.Je te vois. / C'est pour toi.'Tu' is only for the subject (the person doing the action). For objects, use 'te', and after prepositions like 'pour' or 'avec', use the disjunctive pronoun 'toi'.
Using 'tu' with a stranger or a boss.
Different MeaningTu t'appelles comment ?Comment vous appelez-vous ?'Tu t'appelles comment ?' is fine with a friend. To a police officer, a stranger or a boss, 'tu' can feel disrespectful, so use vous until invited to use 'tu'.
Keeping the -s in the imperative (command) form for -er verbs.
Manges !Mange !In the imperative mood for regular -er verbs, the -s from the 'tu' form is dropped.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- tu vs vous formality concept
This provides the conceptual overview of the difference between 'tu' and 'vous'.
Level 1 - vousFormal or Plural Vous
The formal or plural counterpart to 'tu'.
Level 1 - jeFirst-person Singular Je
The first-person singular pronoun, often learned alongside 'tu'.
Level 1 - Regular -er verb conjugation
Shows how to conjugate the most common verbs when 'tu' is the subject.
Level 1 - moi / toi / lui / elle / nous / vous / eux / ellesStressed Pronouns Moi, Toi, Lui, Elle, Nous, Vous, Eux, Elles
Explains the form 'toi', which is used instead of 'tu' after prepositions.
Level 4
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice tu in Bubblegum
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