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"Tu" vs "Usted" in Spanish Insults & Arguments | ||
Tags: Polite/Informal Forms | Spanish | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages |  | |
| XGargoyle Bilingual Triglot Groupie Spain Joined 5750 days ago 42 posts - 93 votes  Speaks: Spanish*, Catalan*, EnglishB2 Studies: GermanA2, Japanese, Russian | Message 9 of 13 30 December 2009 at 2:11am | IP Logged |
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Depending on the source, it's referenced as either "Vuesa Merced" or "Vuestra Merced". I believe that one of the forms may be older than the other one, or maybe some regions used their own version. Since I'm not historian or linguist I can't provide a more detailed explanation.
Regarding the use of "Vos", here's the Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voseo) on the topic. The same article in Spanish contains a more detailed explanation for those that could understand it. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Cainntear Pentaglot Senior Member Scotland linguafrankly.blogsp Joined 5805 days ago 4399 posts - 7687 votes Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh | Message 10 of 13 30 December 2009 at 5:34pm | IP Logged |
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Maybe it's not a matter of formal v informal, but rather familiar v distant.
God is commonly referred to as "tú" (Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos) to say that he is someone dear to us, despite the fact that he is supposed to be the most senior and most respected figure of all*. Using "Usted" may be a way of increasing social distance. Or it may just be that it's a textbook and all textbooks include some errors. There's never an easy way of knowing unfortunately. * This is not intended as a statement of belief or an invitation to debate the rights and wrongs of religion, just an observation of the social background to the language. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| TheBiscuit Tetraglot Senior Member Mexico Joined 5717 days ago 532 posts - 619 votes Speaks: English*, French, Spanish, Italian Studies: German, Croatian | Message 11 of 13 31 December 2009 at 5:34am | IP Logged |
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People will change to usted for arguing in Mexico, moreso in rural Mexico though young people will often stick with tú as was mentioned. My wife changes to usted when she shouts at me sometimes.
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| El Forastero Pentaglot Senior Member Colombia alijunakai.blogspot.Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6063 days ago 186 posts - 228 votes Speaks: Spanish*, Portuguese, FrenchB1, EnglishC1, Italian Studies: German | Message 12 of 13 02 January 2010 at 11:30pm | IP Logged |
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In inner Colombia, at least in Bogotá, people insult with "Usted" because "tu" is simply lovely. You use "Tu" to talk with your girlfriend, not to talk with someone that has crashed your car. but if you argue with your girlfriend, inmediately you switch to use "usted".
For instance, my mother talk to me using "tu", but if she was angry with me, she'd use "usted" In medellín, People use a mixture of "Vos" and "usted" Edited by El Forastero on 02 January 2010 at 11:31pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| original501 Triglot Newbie United States Joined 5433 days ago 23 posts - 24 votes Speaks: English, Spanish*, Portuguese Studies: French, Arabic (Written) | Message 13 of 13 20 January 2010 at 10:18pm | IP Logged |
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Mostly, "usted" is used with people you do not know, even if you are being rude.
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