A simple storybook illustration showing one person gesturing toward a small group of three friends, representing the concept of 'you all'.

vosotros

/boh-SOH-trohs/

PronounmA1

you all?informal, when addressing a group

Also:y'all?colloquial English equivalent,you guys?colloquial English equivalent

📝 In Action

¿Vosotros sois de Madrid?

Are you all from Madrid?

Chicos, ¿qué queréis hacer vosotros esta tarde?

Guys, what do you all want to do this afternoon?

Vosotros tenéis que estudiar más si queréis aprobar.

You all have to study more if you want to pass.

Si vosotras estáis listas, podemos irnos.

If you all (speaking to a group of women) are ready, we can go.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ustedes (you all (formal in Spain; standard in Latin America))

Antonyms

yo (I)
nosotros (we)

Common Collocations

vosotros mismos – yourselves (masculine or mixed group)
vosotras mismas – yourselves (feminine group)

💡 Grammar Points

The Informal 'You All' of Spain

vosotros is the way to say 'you all' or 'y'all' when talking to a group of friends, family, or children in most of Spain. It has its own special verb endings.

`vosotros` vs. `vosotras`

Use vosotros for a group of all males or a mixed group of males and females. Use its sister word, vosotras, only when everyone in the group you're talking to is female.

A Clue for Verbs

The verb forms for vosotros are very recognizable. In the present tense, they often end in -áis, -éis, or -ís (like habláis, coméis, vivís).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it in Latin America

Mistake: "Using `vosotros` when speaking to people in Mexico, Colombia, or Argentina."

Correction: In Latin America, always use `ustedes` for 'you all'. Using `vosotros` there will sound very out of place, like someone using 'thee' and 'thou' in modern English.

Mixing up Verb Forms

Mistake: "Saying something like `Ustedes coméis la paella`."

Correction: The pronouns and verbs must match. It's either `Vosotros coméis` (in Spain) or `Ustedes comen` (everywhere). They can't be mixed and matched.

⭐ Usage Tips

When Should I Learn It?

If you plan to travel to Spain or watch Spanish shows/movies, learning vosotros is essential. If your main focus is Latin America, you can learn it later, as ustedes will be much more useful for you at first.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: vosotros

Question 1 of 1

You are talking to a group of your friends in Madrid. How would you ask, 'Do you all want to go to the movies?'

📚 More Resources

Word Family

vosotras(you all (feminine)) - pronoun

vuestro / vuestra(your / yours (plural)) - adjective/pronoun

vos(you (singular, informal)) - pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need to learn `vosotros` if I'm learning Spanish?

It depends on your goals! If you want to understand movies, TV shows, and books from Spain, or if you plan to travel there, then yes, it's very important. If your focus is purely on Latin America, you can get by without it, as they use `ustedes` instead.

Is `vosotros` the same as `vos`?

No, they're different. `Vosotros` means 'you all' and is mainly used in Spain. `Vos` means 'you' (singular, like `tú`) and is used in several Latin American countries, like Argentina and Uruguay. They come from the same root word but are used very differently today.

If I use `ustedes` in Spain, will people understand me?

Yes, absolutely! Everyone in Spain understands `ustedes`. It will just sound a bit formal to them if you're in a casual setting, as if you were calling your friends 'sir' or 'ma'am'. They won't be offended, but they'll know you're likely a learner or from Latin America.