"Tu" or "vous": Which One Should You Choose in French?

In French, we say you to a loved one and you to someone you don't know or to a supervisor at work; if in doubt, choose you. That's the rule I give my students. In this article, I'll explain when to use each one, how to switch from one to the other, and what mistakes to avoid.

The Basic Rule

In French, there are two ways to address someone:

• the tutoiement¹the act of addressing someone informally; the verb is "tutoyer" : you ;
• the vouvoiement²the act of addressing someone as "you" (using the formal "vous"); the verb is "vouvoyer" : you.

Here's my rule, in two lines:

• you : for loved ones;
• you : for a supervisor at work, or for a stranger, for example in a store, restaurant, or café.

Warning: you It also has a second meaning. It's used when talking to several people, even friends.

Are you coming tonight?

When said to two friends, this sentence doesn't sound distant at all. It's simply addressed to more than one person.

When to use "tu" and when to use "vous"

People say "you"

• to his family: parents, brothers and sisters, cousins;
• to his friends;
• for children;
• to someone who suggests using the informal "tu" form with you.

Hi, Léa, would you like some coffee?

They say you

• to a stranger: a waiter, a sales clerk, a passerby on the street;
• to a supervisor at work;
• in government offices: at city hall, at the bank, at the doctor's office;
• to an older person you don't know very well.

Hello, ma'am, do you have this sweater in size M?

At work, habits vary from one company to another. Among coworkers, the you is common. When talking to a supervisor, start by you and wait until we offer you the you.

Switching from "vous" to "tu"

We don't move on to the you all of a sudden, on its own. Usually, someone offers it or asks for it:

Can we use "you" instead of "you" (informal)?

Should we use "you" informally?

The answer is often simple: “Yes, of course!” From there, you say you to that person.

Who makes the suggestion? Often, it's the oldest person or the one in the highest position. If your manager asks, "Should we use first names?" you can feel free to say yes.

In my classes, I use the informal “tu” form with my students. We work on everyday French, and in everyday life, the you is more prevalent than the you. In the first class, I often say, “We use you". »

Everything changes in the sentence

Choose you or you, it's not just a matter of changing one word. The verb, the surrounding words, and the polite expressions change as well.

The verb

• you are → you are
• you have → you have
• You're telling me → you're talking
• you can → you can

Same thing at theimpératif³the verb form used to give a command or advice: “come,” “come” :

Come! → Come on!

Sit down. → Please sit down.

Little Notes

The adjectifs possessifs⁴words that indicate who something belongs to: “your” (singular), “your” (plural) are also changing:

• your book, your home, your friends → your book, your home, your friends

And pronouns:

• Thank you → Thank you
• What about you? → What about you?

The closing formula

• with you : please
• with you : please

Two mistakes I hear in class

When you choose you or you, you have to keep it until the end of the sentence—and the conversation. Here are two mistakes I hear my students make.

1. Say "you," then "please"

Error:

Can you help me, please?

If you use the informal "you" with the person, the closing should follow. Correct:

Can you help me, please?

2. Use the informal "you" (tutoyer), then reply, "And you?"

Here, the student addresses me informally, then goes back to you in the same conversation.

Error:

— Hi, how are you? — I'm fine. How about you?

Correct:

— Hi, how are you? — I'm fine. How about you?

These mistakes aren't serious—we understand. But they're noticeable. To correct them, you need to practice. That's what we do in class and in the conversation workshops. To find out what a class is like, read my method.

What Changes Depending on Your Language

Depending on your native language, the choice between you and you will be more or less natural.

In English, you It applies to everyone. There's no choice to be made. So this is a habit we need to develop.

In Spanish, we distinguish between you and you. The principle is similar to that in French: you for loved ones, you out of politeness.

In German, we distinguish between from the and Sie. Here, too, the principle is similar: from the for loved ones, Sie out of politeness.

In Portuguese, customs vary greatly between Brazil and Portugal. The forms you, you, Mr. and the lady are not used in the same way in both countries. Don't just copy your own habits: follow the French rule.

What about outside of France?

French is spoken in many countries, and customs vary from place to place. In Quebec, for example, people are more likely to use the informal “tu” than in France, even with people they don’t know very well.

If you're traveling or living in a French-speaking country, pay attention to how people talk to each other around you. And if in doubt, start by you : if the person prefers the you, she'll offer it to you.

In summary

• you for loved ones, you for strangers and superiors;
• you also to talk to several people;
• If in doubt, you ;
• to move on to the you : “Should we use ‘you’?”;
• Once you've made your choice, stick with it: please with you, What about you? with you.

Not sure what your level is yet? Check out the page levels. And if you have any questions, please write to me from the page contact.