túvstu
/TOO/
/TOO/
💡 Quick Rule
Tú with an accent is about YOU. Tu without an accent is about YOUR stuff.
The accent mark is a little crown for YOU, the person.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | tú | tu | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asking about someone | ¿Tú eres de aquí? | ¿Tu familia es de aquí? | Tú asks about the person. Tu asks about something belonging to them (their family). |
| Making a statement | Tú cocinas delicioso. | Tu comida es deliciosa. | Tú is who does the action (cooking). Tu describes the result of the action (your food). |
| Identifying things | Tú eres el ganador. | Este es tu premio. | Tú identifies the person. Tu identifies their possession. |
✅ When to Use "tú" / tu
tú
You (the person, informal). This is a subject pronoun, the one who does the action.
/TOO/
As the subject of a sentence
Tú hablas español muy bien.
You speak Spanish very well.
For emphasis or contrast
Yo quiero café, ¿y tú?
I want coffee, and you?
After certain prepositions like 'según' or 'entre'
Según tú, la película empieza a las ocho.
According to you, the movie starts at eight.
tu
Your (belonging to you, informal). This is a possessive adjective, showing ownership.
/TOO/
To show something belongs to 'you'
¿Es este tu libro?
Is this your book?
To describe a relationship
Tu hermana es muy amable.
Your sister is very kind.
Always placed before a noun
Me encanta tu coche nuevo.
I love your new car.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "tú":
Tú eres inteligente.
You are intelligent.
With "tu":
Tu idea es inteligente.
Your idea is intelligent.
The Difference: Tú with an accent describes the person directly. Tu without an accent describes something connected to the person, like their idea or possession.
With "tú":
Tú vives en una casa grande.
You live in a big house.
With "tu":
Tu casa es grande.
Your house is big.
The Difference: Tú is the subject who performs the action ('you live'). Tu is the possessive adjective that describes the noun ('your house').
🎨 Visual Comparison
A split-screen cartoon showing tú (you, the person) vs. tu (your, a possession).
Tú with the accent is YOU, the person. Tu without it points to YOUR things.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Me gusta tú camisa.
Me gusta tu camisa.
When talking about something that belongs to someone ('your shirt'), use 'tu' without the accent.
Cuando vienes tu a mi casa?
¿Cuándo vienes tú a mi casa?
When 'you' is the person doing the action (the subject of the verb 'vienes'), it needs the accent: 'tú'.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Tú vs Tu
Question 1 of 2
Fill in the blank: ¿Dónde está ___ coche?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 'tú' and 'tu' sound different when spoken?
No, they are pronounced exactly the same. The difference is only visible in writing. This is why paying close attention to accent marks (tildes) is so important in Spanish!
Why does this one little accent mark matter so much?
This type of accent is called a 'tilde diacrítica' in Spanish. Its only job is to distinguish between two words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings or grammatical roles. You'll see it with other pairs like 'el' (the) vs. 'él' (he) and 'mi' (my) vs. 'mí' (me).