French word

tutoyer

Pronunciation

IPA/tytwaje/

Meaning

  • verbuse tu with ___

Example

Vous pouvez me tutoyer.

You can use tu with me.

Illustration for tutoyer (use tu with ___)

More examples

Entre nous, on peut se tutoyer.

Between us, we can address each other informally.

Core concept

Using tu as the conversational address that marks an informal connection rather than formal distance.

Common phrases

  • se tutoyer

    address each other informally

  • tutoyer quelqu'un

    address someone informally

Similar words

vouvoyer: Address someone with vous to maintain a polite distance.

Definition in French

S'adresser à quelqu'un en employant le pronom familier tu au lieu de vous, marquant une relation familière ou informelle.

Word origin

Tutoyer is a French derivative of tu, while vouvoyer provides the corresponding verb based on vous.

Usage tips

  • In the present tense, tutoyer changes y to i in je tutoie and ils tutoient but keeps y in nous tutoyons.

Opposites

Related words

  • tutoiementinformal addressnoun
  • tutoyantusing the informal form of addressadjective

Word lists with this word