vosotros / ustedes

Peninsular vs. Latin American Register

Level 6

Much of Spain contrasts informal vosotros with formal ustedes. Latin America and the Canary Islands normally use ustedes for both. Western Andalusian usage also differs from the two-pronoun pattern.

How It Works

Two Common Regional Patterns
In much of Spain, vosotros/vosotras is informal plural address and ustedes is formal. In ordinary Latin American and Canary Island usage, ustedes addresses groups in either register. Vosotros may still occur in literary or ceremonial language outside its everyday regional use.

Keep the Standard Agreement Pattern Together

  • Vosotros: Vosotros coméis vuestra comida. The verb is second-person plural; os serves as an object or reflexive pronoun. Vuestro/vuestra/vuestros/vuestras agrees with the possessed noun.
  • Ustedes: Ustedes comen su comida. The verb is third-person plural. Los/las usually marks direct objects, les indirect objects, and se reflexive uses. Su/sus agrees in number with the possessed noun.

Regional Variation Within Spain
Western Andalusian speech includes ustedes for informal groups and local combinations with second-person plural forms. Such regional usage should not be mistaken for a claim that every Spanish speaker uses the same system. For the general standard ustedes pattern taught here, use third-person plural agreement.

Formality Comes From Context
Age or a business setting does not impose one pronoun everywhere. Local custom, the relationship and the situation matter. Ustedes can address close friends or children naturally in Latin America. Compare ¿Vosotros queréis ir? and ¿Ustedes quieren ir?: both can be informal invitations in the appropriate regional variety.

Examples (5)

  1. ¿Vosotros queréis ir al cine esta noche, chicos?

    Do you guys want to go to the movies tonight?

    Word by Word: You-all want-2nd-plural to-go to-the movie-theater this night, guys?

    Informal plural address using vosotros and queréis, common in much of Spain.

  2. ¿Ustedes quieren ir al cine esta noche, chicos?

    Do you guys want to go to the movies tonight?

    Word by Word: You-all want-3rd-plural to-go to-the movie-theater this night, guys?

    Standard Latin American Spanish informal plural address using 'ustedes' with third-person plural 'quieren'.

  3. Señores clientes, ¿ustedes necesitan ayuda con sus maletas?

    Dear customers, do you need help with your suitcases?

    Word by Word: Mister customers, you-all need-3rd-plural help with your suitcases?

    The wording addresses customers respectfully. Ustedes fits formal address in much of Spain and either register in Latin America; the pronoun alone does not make the latter formal.

  4. Chicos, no olvidéis traer vuestros libros mañana.

    Kids, don't forget to bring your books tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Kids, not forget-2nd-plural-imperative to-bring your books tomorrow.

    Peninsular Spanish imperative command with 'vosotros' (negative command using subjunctive) and possessive 'vuestros'.

  5. Chicos, no olviden traer sus libros mañana.

    Kids, don't forget to bring your books tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Kids, not forget-3rd-plural-imperative to-bring your books tomorrow.

    Latin American Spanish imperative command directed at kids using 'ustedes' conjugation ('olviden') and possessive 'sus'.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing 'vosotros' pronoun with third-person plural verb forms.

    Vosotros quieren comer ahora.
    Vosotros queréis comer ahora.

    'Vosotros' strictly requires second-person plural verb forms ('queréis'). Combining 'vosotros' with third-person plural 'quieren' is grammatically mismatched.

  • Mixing possessives when the intended standard ustedes group owns the passports.

    Ustedes tienen vuestros pasaportes.
    Ustedes tienen sus pasaportes.

    For the intended standard ustedes pattern, with the passports belonging to that same group, use sus. Vuestros belongs to the vosotros possessive pattern. A different possessor or a local mixed-address variety requires its own context; the comparison here keeps the same addressees and standard agreement.

  • Mixing verb forms when consistent standard Latin American plural address is intended.

    Ustedes son mis mejores amigos, ¿queréis salir?
    Ustedes son mis mejores amigos, ¿quieren salir?

    For this intended standard Latin American invitation, use quieren with ustedes. Ustedes itself creates no formal distance between these friends. Mixed second-person forms occur in regional speech, notably western Andalusia, but are not the target pattern here.

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vosotros / ustedesLevel 6Peninsular vs. Latin American Register

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