Inklingo

How to Say "you guys" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “you guys” is “ustedes” — use 'ustedes' when addressing a group of people in Latin America, or in any Spanish-speaking region if you want to be formal or are unsure of the regional preference.

English → Spanish

ustedes

oos-TEH-dehsusˈteðes

pronounA1formal/neutral
Use 'ustedes' when addressing a group of people in Latin America, or in any Spanish-speaking region if you want to be formal or are unsure of the regional preference.
A friendly group of three people standing together and smiling, representing a group being addressed.

Examples

¿Ustedes son de aquí?

Are you guys from here?

Ustedes tienen una casa muy bonita.

You have a very beautiful house.

Quiero ir al cine con ustedes.

I want to go to the movies with you all.

Verb Matching

Even though 'ustedes' means 'you,' it always uses the same verb forms as 'they' (ellos/ellas). For example: 'Ellos viven' and 'Ustedes viven'.

No Gender Change

The word 'ustedes' never changes, whether you are talking to a group of men, a group of women, or a mixed group.

Using the wrong verb form

Mistake: “Ustedes sois amigos.”

Correction: Ustedes son amigos. (Remember to use the 'they' form of the verb, not the 'vosotros' form unless you are specifically in Spain using 'vosotros'.)

vosotros

boh-SOH-trohsboˈsotɾos

pronounA1informal
Use 'vosotros' when addressing a group of people informally in Spain.
A simple storybook illustration showing one person gesturing toward a small group of three friends, representing the concept of 'you all'.

Examples

¿Vosotros sois de Madrid?

Are you guys 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.

Regional Usage of 'You Guys'

The most common mistake is using 'vosotros' outside of Spain, where it will sound very strange or incorrect. Always default to 'ustedes' when in doubt, especially in Latin America.

Related Translations

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