Usted--le (en. You--you)

/us'ted le/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

noun

A form of address pronoun used to refer to someone with respect.

The teacher always speaks to his students as if they were adults, using 'you'.

El profesor siempre le habla a sus alumnos como si fueran adultos, usando 'usted'.

Grammatical function that indicates the target of the action towards the pronoun.

The verb 'give' in the phrase 'I give the book to you' shows how the pronoun combines with the context.

El verbo 'dar' en la frase 'Yo le doy el libro a usted' muestra cómo se combina el pronombre con el contexto.

verb

Use of the pronoun in a verbal structure to indicate courtesy.

When you ask someone, you show courtesy.

Cuando usted le pregunta a alguien, se muestra cortesía.

It comes from Old Spanish, derived from 'vuestra merced', which was shortened to 'usted'.

How are you?

Expression of courtesy to ask someone's state.

¿Cómo está usted?

You seem nice

Statement indicating that someone is perceived positively.

Usted le parece amable

Please, you first

Expression that shows respect when inviting someone to precede in an action.

Por favor, usted primero

you

Informal singular pronoun used in many regions to address someone.

tú

thou

Singular pronoun primarily used in some Latin American countries instead of 'you'.

vos

you

Short form of the pronoun 'you--him', used as formal address.

usted

Using 'you' sarcastically to refer to someone in an ironic way.

When he called the new kid in class 'you' for his mistakes, everyone laughed.

Cuando le dijo 'usted' al nuevo chico de la clase por sus errores, todos se rieron.

Referring to someone in a humiliating way using the pronoun.

I didn’t believe he spoke to me that way, as if I were 'you'.

No creía que me hablara de esa manera, como si yo fuera 'usted'.