Personal pronouns
The word for 'I'.
'Tú' is the informal 'you' (for friends, family). 'Usted' is the formal 'you' (for strangers, elders, authority figures).
'He' and 'She'.
'We'. Use 'nosotros' for a group of males or a mixed group, and 'nosotras' for a group of all females.
The plural 'you' (you all/y'all). In Latin America, this is used in both formal and informal situations.
'They'. Use 'ellos' for a group of males or a mixed group, and 'ellas' for a group of all females.
I am from Colombia.
Do you want a coffee? (informal)
She is my teacher.
We are going to the movies.
Do you all need help?
In Spain, 'vosotros' (and 'vosotras' for all-female groups) is the informal plural 'you'. 'Ustedes' is reserved for formal situations only. This is the biggest difference from Latin American Spanish.
In these countries (and parts of Central America), 'vos' is used instead of 'tú' for the informal singular 'you'. It also uses a unique verb conjugation, for example, 'vos sos' instead of 'tú eres'.
It's common to hear 'usted' used even in informal contexts between friends and family, showing a higher level of general formality compared to countries like Mexico, where 'tú' is more widespread among peers.
Mistake: Always including the pronoun, e.g., 'Yo voy al mercado.' Why it's wrong: Spanish is a 'pro-drop' language. If the verb ending makes it clear who the subject is (like 'voy' can only be 'yo'), the pronoun is often omitted. 'Voy al mercado' sounds more natural.
Mistake: Translating 'it' as a subject. e.g., 'It is important' becomes 'Ello es importante'. Why it's wrong: Spanish doesn't have a direct subject pronoun for 'it'. You simply omit the pronoun: 'Es importante'.
Mistake: Using 'tú' with a boss or an older person. Why it's wrong: This can be seen as disrespectful. Always default to the formal 'usted' with strangers, elders, or in professional settings until invited to be more casual.
Mistake: Using 'ellos' for a group of all women. e.g., 'Mis amigas... ellos son de Perú.' Why it's wrong: Pronouns must match the gender of the group. For a group of all females, you must use 'ellas'. The correct sentence is 'Mis amigas... ellas son de Perú.'
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