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Tu or vous? Saying “you” in French

Tu for one person you're close to. Vous to be polite — and for any group, even friends.

FrenchLevel A1

Who gets tu and who gets vousLeft: tu, a single smiling stick figure, for friends, family and kids. Right: vous, a stick figure in a tie for one person you are polite to, such as a waiter, boss or stranger, and a group of three figures: two or more people always get vous. Bottom: not sure, start with vous. On se tutoie? means shall we say tu.tuvousfriends, family,kids1 person, polite:waiter, boss, stranger2+ peoplealways!Not sure? start with vous« On se tutoie ? » = shall we say tu?

Use tu with one person you know well: friends, family, children. Use vous with one person you are polite to (a waiter, your boss, a stranger) and always with two or more people. If unsure, start with vous; the other person may suggest « On se tutoie ? » (shall we say tu?).

What changes with tu and vousTwo columns. tu peux and vous pouvez. tu as and vous avez. ton, ta, tes and votre, vos. s'il te plaît and s'il vous plaît.tuvoustu peuxvous pouveztu asvous avezton, ta, tesvotre, voss'il te plaîts'il vous plaît

The verb and the possessive change with the pronoun: tu peux / vous pouvez (you can), tu as / vous avez (you have), ton, ta, tes / votre, vos (your), s'il te plaît / s'il vous plaît (please).

Examples

  • Tu peux répéter ?

    Could you say that again? (to a friend)

  • C'est comme tu veux.

    It's up to you. (casual)

  • Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?

    What do you recommend? (to a waiter)

  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

    The bill, please.

  • Vous venez ce soir, tous les deux ?

    Are you both coming tonight? (two friends → vous)

  • On peut se tutoyer ?

    Shall we say “tu” to each other?

Common mistake

Mistake: tu to a waiterSpeaking to a waiter. Crossed out: Tu as un plat végétarien ? Correct: Vous avez un plat végétarien ?to a waiter:Tu as un plat végétarien ?Vous avez un plat végétarien ?the verb changes too!

To a waiter or anyone you don't know, tu sounds rude or overfamiliar. Wrong: Tu as un plat végétarien ? Right: Vous avez un plat végétarien ? (Do you have a vegetarian dish?)

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