"Usted" and "Tú" Yesterday a friend from Lang-8 asked by the use of "usted" and "tú". Today I going to write about this. This is a complicated affair even for us the Spanish speakers. And the use is a little different between Spain and Latinamerica. "Usted" is a signal of respect and education, so: We would use "usted" when we talk to a unknown person by phone. We would use "usted" when we talk to a unknown person in the street, when this person is older than us or we think that he has ours age. Unless this person ask we that speak to him of "tú". We will use always "usted" with our boss. We will use always "usted" in formal letters or official documents. "Tú" is a coloquial or familiar form to speak, so: We will use "tú" when we speak to friends, workmates and familiar or when we speak to children or teenagers. Now the teenagers never use "usted" with nobody even with their teachers. I don't like when a young person talks to me with "usted", because he make me feel old, so I ask him always that he speak to me with "tú". Thanks.