Should I use vous or tu?

“Tu” is only used to address one person, while “vous” is used to address one or more people. As a singular second person pronoun, “vous” is used in more formal contexts while “tu” is more familiar.
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When should you use tu or vous?

Tu vs. vous
  1. Tu is the informal form of 'you', used with family, friends, children, or other people of the same age. ...
  2. Vous is the formal form of 'you', used with strangers, elderly people, and when we're talking to people in a professional context (at least to begin with). ...
  3. Note : ...
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Is vous more polite than tu?

In case of doubt, it's always better to use “vous” than “tu”. However, there are some rare cases where the use of “vous” instead of “tu” can offend a person. Now you probably wonder how being more polite can offend someone. The reality is that “vous” doesn't only show respect, it shows distance.
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Why do French use vous instead of tu?

In a nutshell, tu is informal and singular, while vous is formal and/or plural. That is, if you're talking to more than one person, it doesn't matter what your relationship is – you always need vous. It's only when talking to a single person that the choice must be made.
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Do the French still use vous?

French conversation is a delicate dance.

In other words, you're constantly making that choice between vous and tu (the formal and informal “you,” respectively). Get it wrong and you'll sound out of place, awkward and possibly even insulting! Still, there's no need to panic.
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Tu vs. Vous - When to use TU or VOUS in French - Made Easy to Understand



Is it rude to say tu?

Tu is appropriate when talking to someone in a group, even if you don't know them. 2.) Vous is appropriate when talking to somebody one-on-one (e.g., a random young person on the street who is alone).
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Do you use vous with parents?

Senior Member. Actually I'd say that it depends on how close you are to the person. I would say "vous" to somebody about my age if I don't know him/her and if I'm not close to him/her. As regards your parents or grand parents, most people tend to say "tu" but some say "vous".
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Do you use vous for grandparents?

Depending on the level of formality used in a family, it could also be used by a child speaking to his or her parents or grandparents, although many families do not require this. In any other situation that requires formality, or when in doubt, use “vous.”
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Would you use tu or vous when talking to a teacher?

For pupils younger than 13, teachers automatically use tu. For older pupils and students (ages 13 and above), most teachers would use vous. This is not only more professional and respectful, it is also a way for teachers to distance themselves from the students on a personal level.
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What is vous used for?

There is just one way to say “you” in French when you talk to several people : it's “vous”. No matter whether you are being formal or informal. No matter the grammatical value of the noun “you” replaces. When you talk to 2 people or more, you're going to use “vous”.
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Why do French people use vous?

As a general rule 'tu' is restricted to people you know well, such as friends, family or close relatives - or children. The use of 'vous' is more common in formal situations, for example, a one-on-one conversation with a person you do not know or with whom there is a big age difference.
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How do you address two people in French?

The two main forms of address you will need to use are “Monsieur” (Dear Sir) and “Madame” (Dear Madame), used when addressing men and women, respectively. If you know the name of the person, you should use it afterwards (e.g. Monsieur John Doe, Madame Jane Doe, and so forth.)
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Is vous a word?

vous → you. vous → you, each other, good luck.
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Is vous always plural?

"Vous" can be either singular or plural. In this respect it is very much like the English "you". If you use "vous" as a polite form of the 2nd person singular you must also match anything that depends on it to be in singular as well. The same goes for "vous" in the 2nd person plural.
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Is tu informal or formal?

In Spanish there are two ways of saying "you": There's the informal form, tú and the more formal usted (often abbreviated as Ud.)
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How do you address a child in French?

In French, you can add “mon petit” or “ma petite” in front, depending on the gender of the word that follows.
  1. Mon petit bébé
  2. Mon petit amour.
  3. Mon petit chou.
  4. Mon petit rayon de soleil.
  5. Mon petit coeur.
  6. Ma petite puce.
  7. Mon petit ange.
  8. Mon petit trésor.
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Is vous plural or singular?

The French Subject Pronoun for You = Vous

Vous is the pronoun to use when you are talking to a group of people. Vous is also referred to as the second person plural (deuxième personne du pluriel).
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Can you use tu with a teacher?

The so-called familiar form of you is tú. As a general rule, you would use usted when addressing strangers, your teachers, people in authority, or a person you address by his or her last name. Tú is used with family, very good friends, people you would address by their first name, children, pets and the Diety.
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Do French kids use vous with their parents?

My husband has a French co-worker whose six young children all use “vous” with their parents. They are nice, normal kids with a great relationship with their parents. It's just the way it's always done in their family and the parent's feel that this formalness reinforces their parental authority.
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Do French children use tu or vous with parents?

'Tu' is used by parents towards their children's friends, but when parents meet parents it is always 'vous' unless they have become friends. Within families, everyone says 'tu'. This was not the case in the 18th century and occasionally older generations are still being called 'vous' by their grand-children.
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When can I use tu?

Knowing when to use which French pronoun will help you navigate through many social situations. “Tu” is only used to address one person, while “vous” is used to address one or more people. As a singular second person pronoun, “vous” is used in more formal contexts while “tu” is more familiar.
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How do you address an older person in French?

“Other than that if there's an age gap of 20 years or more then you should probably address the older person as Monsieur or Madame unless they tell you otherwise. “If you are the older person then it is up to you to give permission for your first name to be used.”
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