How to Say "y'all" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “y'all” is “uds.” — use 'uds.' when addressing a group of people formally, or in Latin America where it's the standard informal way to say 'you all'.
uds.
oos-TEH-desusˈteðes
Examples
Uds. deben traer su pasaporte mañana.
You all must bring your passports tomorrow.
¿A qué hora llegan Uds. al aeropuerto?
What time are you (plural) arriving at the airport?
Si Uds. lo deciden, podemos empezar ahora.
If you decide, we can start now.
Pronunciation of Abbreviations
Even though it is written 'Uds.', you must pronounce the full word: 'ustedes.' This abbreviation is only used in writing.
Verb Agreement
The pronoun 'Uds.' always uses the third-person plural form of the verb (the same form used for 'ellos' or 'ellas'). For example: 'Uds. comen' (You eat), 'Ellos comen' (They eat).
Confusing Formal and Informal Plural
Mistake: “Using 'vosotros' in Latin America.”
Correction: In almost all of Latin America, 'Uds.' (ustedes) is the standard plural 'you' for both formal and informal situations. 'Vosotros' is only common in Spain.
vosotros
boh-SOH-trohsboˈsotɾos
Examples
¿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.
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).
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.
Formality and Region Matter
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