Spanish word

tuteo

Pronunciation

IPA/tuˈteo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounuse of the informal you

Example

En España se usa mucho el tuteo entre compañeros de trabajo.

In Spain, the use of the informal you is common among coworkers.

Illustration for tuteo (use of the informal you)

More examples

En redes sociales muchos usuarios emplean el tuteo incluso con personas que no conocen.

On social networks many users use the informal you even with people they don't know.

Core concept

Choosing tú over usted to indicate familiarity.

Common phrases

  • usar el tuteo

    use the informal you

  • pasar al tuteo

    switch to the informal you

  • iniciar el tuteo

    start using the informal you

Similar words

voseo: Uses vos when addressing someone to signal personal closeness.
familiaridad: Indicates relational closeness that makes social interaction relaxed.
trato de confianza: Addresses someone without formal titles to show mutual trust and familiarity.

Definition in Spanish

Uso de la forma de tratamiento 'tú' en lugar de 'usted' para dirigirse a otra persona en contextos informales, indicando confianza o cercanía.

Word origin

Derived from the pronoun tú (Latin tu); the verb tutear adds the verbal suffix -ear and the noun tuteo is formed from that verb with the suffix -eo.

Usage tips

  • When unsure, speakers typically follow the other person's form of address or use '¿Nos tuteamos?' because switching to tú without consent can be rude in formal contexts.

Other meanings

  • familiar form of addressnoun

Opposites

  • trato de ustedformal form of addressnoun

Related words

  • tutearaddress using the familiar second-person formverb

Word lists with this word