A friendly young woman smiling and pointing directly at a single young man, illustrating the concept of direct, familiar address.

vos

vohs

pronounA2

you?singular, familiar address (replaces 'tú' in voseo regions)

📝 In Action

Vos tenés que terminar tu tarea antes de salir.

You have to finish your homework before leaving. (Note: The verb 'tenés' is the vos form.)

¿Qué hacés esta noche, vos?

What are you doing tonight, you?

Vení a mi casa el domingo; vamos a almorzar.

Come to my house on Sunday; we are going to have lunch. (Note: The command form 'Vení' is used.)

Word Connections

Synonyms

tú (you (singular, familiar))

Antonyms

usted (you (singular, formal))

💡 Grammar Points

The Function of Vos

'Vos' means 'you' (singular) and is used in familiar situations, just like 'tú.' The main difference is that using 'vos' changes the ending of the verb.

How Regular Verbs Change

For 'vos,' regular verbs drop the 'i' or 'e' from the 'tú' form and shift the stress to the last syllable (often with an accent mark). Example: 'tú hablas' becomes 'vos hablás'; 'tú comes' becomes 'vos comés'.

Easy Commands (Imperative)

To tell someone using 'vos' what to do, take the infinitive (the base verb, like 'comer'), drop the 'r', and place an accent on the final vowel. Example: 'Comer' becomes the command 'Comé' (Eat!).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Pronoun and Verb

Mistake: "Using 'vos' with a 'tú' verb form, like: 'Vos hablas bien.'"

Correction: Always match the pronoun and the verb form: 'Vos hablás bien.' (You speak well.)

⭐ Usage Tips

When in Doubt, Observe

If you are in a country where 'vos' is used (like Argentina), try to copy the forms the locals use, especially the command forms (e.g., 'Traeme' instead of 'Tráeme').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: vos

Question 1 of 1

If you are in Argentina, which sentence would you use to tell a friend, 'You live far away'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tú(you (familiar)) - pronoun

usted(you (formal)) - pronoun

Actions

📊 Frequency

Extremely common and standard form of address in regions where voseo is practiced (e.g., Argentina, Uruguay, Central America).

🌎 Regionalisms

Argentina and Uruguay

'Vos' is the universal standard for familiar address, replacing 'tú' entirely. The associated verb conjugations (voseo) are always used.

Central America (e.g., Costa Rica, Nicaragua)

'Vos' is very common, often used informally among friends. In some areas, 'tú' might be used for romantic partners, but 'vos' dominates daily informal life.

Colombia (Western regions)

'Vos' is present but usually coexists with 'tú' and 'usted.' Usage can depend heavily on local town or context, sometimes even carrying a slightly formal or respectful tone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If I learn 'tú,' do I need to learn 'vos'?

It depends on where you plan to travel. If you are going to Central America, Argentina, or Uruguay, learning 'vos' is essential for sounding natural and understanding daily conversations, as 'tú' is rarely used there.

Is 'vos' formal or informal?

'Vos' is informal and familiar. It is used in situations where you would normally use 'tú' in other Spanish-speaking regions. It is never used for formal address; for that, you must use 'usted'.