Tú or usted? How people in Spain really address each other

Spain is one of the most informal Spanish-speaking countries. People your age, colleagues (including, often, your boss), the person at the bar and the shop assistant will usually speak to you as tú — and expect the same back. Using usted with a young waiter can even sound a bit cold or funny.

• Older people you don't know — a neighbour in her eighties, an elderly man in the street.
• Officials and formal offices: the immigration office, the town hall, the police.
• Formal work situations: an important client, a first email to someone senior.
• Whenever the other person uses usted with you — follow their lead.

When you talk to more than one person, Spain has two options. Vosotros is the informal plural — with friends, colleagues, a group at the bar. Ustedes is the formal plural. (In Latin America, ustedes is used for both — that's why many courses skip vosotros. In Madrid you'll hear it every day.)

Most Spanish offices use tú between colleagues, often across levels. With clients and in first emails, usted is safer — and your colleagues will tell you when it's time to relax. In emails, Estimada Sra. García is formal; Hola, Marta is the everyday version.