Second person pronouns are pronouns that replace nouns or proper nouns that refer to a person to whom one addresses directly. In simpler terms, a hypothetical conversation: I, the first person, am talking to you, the second person, about him/her/them, the third person. Unlike most dialects of English, which have only one second person pronoun, “you,” French speakers have two second person pronouns to choose from, “tu” and “vous.”
Which to Use and When
There are two main criteria considered in whether to use “tu” or “vous.” The first is number; the second is degree of formality. English does not distinguish between second person singular and second person plural (anymore, “thou” was once the English equivalent of “tu.”) One place where we do distinguish for number is in the third person. The third person singular pronouns are “he” and “she.” The plural is “they.” When one talks about a single person, one uses “he/she.” “He is my friend.” When talking about two or more people, one uses “they.” “They are my friends.”
In French, when addressing a single person whom one knows well, for example a friend or sibling, one would use “tu.” “Tu es mon ami(e). // You are my friend.” When addressing two or more people, one would use “vous.” “Vous êtes mes ami(e)s. // You are my friends.”
Next there is the matter of formality. “Tu” is only used for well-known people and people who do not need to be treated with formality, such as friends, family, and young children. “Vous” is used for everyone else: strangers, acquaintances, and people in positions of authority. There are no English pronouns that distinguish between informal and formal situations. However, in French the distinction is very important, less so in more informal cultures like Quebec, but very much so in more formal cultures like France proper. But even in English, the way one speaks is dependent on the person to whom one speaks. Imagine two situations, the first a conversation between you and a friend, the second between you and a stranger.
In the first situation, you meet your friend at a coffee shop or mall. When you greet him/her, are you more likely to:
- Wave and ask “what's up?” or
- Say “good afternoon” and ask “how are you today?”
Option 1. is rather casual, perfect for greeting a close companion. Option 2., while not wrong, is rather cold. Now, change the situation to meeting a elderly gentleman to discuss important business. Option 1. is now almost unacceptably casual, you barely know this man. Option 2. is far more appropriate and respectful. (Some people would reverse the two options, but let us use the norms for the sake of example.)
“Vous” and “tu” are much the same. Using “vous” with one's close friend or mother is rather cold, along the lines of calling them “sir” and “ma'am,” but using “tu” with a professor or stranger is very forward, analogous to giving them a bear hug and calling them “buddy.”
In summary: "tu" is used when adressing a single person in a casual context, and "vous" is used when adressing someone in a formal context or groups of two or more, even if the context is casual.
Jessica Pigeau - My name is Jessica Pigeau and I am a University student in a Bachelor of Arts program with a major in Romance languages. I have had my ...
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