Spanish word

usted

Pronunciation

IPA/usˈteð/

Meaning

  • pronounyou

Example

¿Usted necesita ayuda?

Do you need help?

Illustration for usted (you)

More examples

Quisiera hablar con usted sobre el trabajo.

I would like to speak with you about work.

Core concept

Respectful singular pronoun that requires third-person verb forms.

Common phrases

  • cómo está usted

    How are you

  • gracias a usted

    thanks to you

  • hablar con usted

    speak with you

Similar words

tú: Casual singular you for close relationships; verbs take second-person forms.
ustedes: Plural you for addressing a group; verbs take third-person plural forms.

Definition in Spanish

Se usa para dirigirse formalmente y con cortesía a una sola persona, y se conjuga como la tercera persona del singular.

Word origin

It comes from the medieval expression vuestra merced, which shortens to vusted and then to modern usted.

Usage tips

  • Usted is not usually capitalized except at the start of a sentence, unlike English pronoun capitalization.

Opposites

  • túinformal youpronoun

Word lists with this word