# Vosotros Explained: Spain's Informal You Plural

> Vosotros is Spain's informal "you" for more than one person. In most of Spain you use it with friends and family, with matching verb forms such as habláis and queréis. Ustedes is the formal plural in most of Spain, and in Latin America it covers every group.

- URL: https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/vosotros-explained/
- Published: 2026-11-03
- Last updated: 2026-11-03
- Publisher: Spanish Out Loud (https://learnspanishoutloud.com/)

## Key takeaways

- Vosotros / vosotras is the informal plural "you" used in most of Spain.
- Matching verbs use second-person plural endings (habláis, coméis, vivís; sois, tenéis, vais).
- Object pronoun os and possessives vuestro / vuestra go with vosotros.
- Ustedes is formal in most of Spain and takes third-person plural verbs (hablan, tienen).
- In western Andalusia, the Canaries and América, vosotros forms are unused; ustedes covers the informal plural too.

*Vosotros* is the Spain Spanish word for "you" when you are talking to more than one friend. If you already know *tú* for one person, *vosotros* (and *vosotras* for a group of women or girls) is the matching informal plural in most of Spain.

This page explains when to use it, the present endings you need first, how *os* and *vuestro* fit, and how *ustedes* contrasts in Spain and across América. For the wider Spain vs Latin America picture, see [Spain Spanish vs Latin American Spanish](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/spain-spanish-vs-latin-american-spanish/). For building *vosotros* into a Castilian routine, see [how to learn Castilian Spanish](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/how-to-learn-castilian-spanish/).

## What is vosotros in Spain Spanish?

*Vosotros* is the informal plural "you". You use it with people you would address as *tú* one by one: friends, family, classmates, children in many everyday settings.

At the time of writing, the [DLE entry for *vosotros*](https://dle.rae.es/vosotros) defines it as the second-person plural pronoun form that, in nominative or vocative or after a preposition, designates the people the speaker is addressing. At the time of writing, the RAE's [DPD entry for *vosotros*](https://www.rae.es/dpd/vosotros) says that, compared with *ustedes*, *vosotros* is the form used in most of Spain for informal address: it implies closeness and is used in familiar, informal or trusted contexts (see also the América note in that entry). In most of Spain *ustedes* is the formal plural in that contrast; the same DPD note points to América and some southern Spanish areas for the other pattern.

*Vosotras* is the feminine form when the whole group is female. Mixed groups take *vosotros* in standard Spain usage.

## When do people use vosotros, and when ustedes in Spain and América?

In most of Spain the split is simple:

| Situation | Form | Verb pattern |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Friends, family, peers | *vosotros* / *vosotras* | second-person plural (*habláis*) |
| Formal groups | *ustedes* (formal in Spain; also the everyday plural in América) | third-person plural (*hablan*) |

At the time of writing, the [DPD entry for *usted*](https://www.rae.es/dpd/usted) says that in most of Spain the plural *ustedes* has the same formal value, compared with *vosotros*, before it turns to América and southern Spain. The same entry notes that in all of América, and within Spain in western Andalusia and the Canaries, *ustedes* is the only form used for several addressees, in both formal and informal address.

At the time of writing, the [DPD entry for *vosotros*](https://www.rae.es/dpd/vosotros) says those *vosotros* forms, and the matching second-person plural verb forms, are unused in América and in some southern Spanish areas such as the Canaries and western Andalusia, where *ustedes* is used for the informal plural in place of *vosotros*.

So for a UK learner aiming at Madrid, Valencia or most of the peninsula: learn *vosotros* with friends. Keep *ustedes* for polite distance in most of Spain (América is different). If you travel in western Andalusia or the Canaries, expect more *ustedes* even among friends, as in América, and answer in the forms you hear.

## How do you conjugate vosotros in the present?

*Vosotros* takes its own second-person plural endings. At the time of writing, the [DPD entry for *vosotros*](https://www.rae.es/dpd/vosotros) gives matching examples such as *calláis*, *bebíais*, *escribisteis* and *saldréis*. In the present indicative, the regular patterns look like this:

| Infinitive | *vosotros* present | English |
| --- | --- | --- |
| *hablar* | *habláis* | you (plural) speak |
| *comer* | *coméis* | you (plural) eat |
| *vivir* | *vivís* | you (plural) live |
| *ser* | *sois* | you (plural) are |
| *tener* | *tenéis* | you (plural) have |
| *querer* | *queréis* | you (plural) want |
| *ir* | *vais* | you (plural) go |
| *hacer* | *hacéis* | you (plural) do / make |

*Ustedes* uses the same endings as *ellos* / *ellas* in Spain and América: *hablan*, *comen*, *viven*, *son*, *tienen*, *quieren*, *van*, *hacen*. In most of Spain that *ustedes* set is the polite plural; across América it is the everyday plural for any group.

| Spanish | English |
| --- | --- |
| *¿Qué queréis?* | What do you want? (friends) |
| *¿Qué quieren ustedes?* (Spain polite / América everyday) | What would you like? |
| *Vosotros sois muy amables.* | You are very kind. (friends) |
| *Ustedes son muy amables.* (Spain polite / América everyday) | You are very kind. |

Affirmative commands for *vosotros* use forms such as *hablad*, *comed* and *venid*. Commands with *ustedes* look like the present subjunctive in Spain and América: *hablen*, *coman*, *vengan*.

## What about os and vuestro?

*Vosotros* rarely travels alone. The unstressed object pronoun is *os*, and the possessive is *vuestro* / *vuestra* / *vuestros* / *vuestras*.

At the time of writing, the [DLE entry for *os*](https://dle.rae.es/os) defines *os* as the unstressed form of *vosotros* used in the dative or accusative for the people being addressed. Examples in that entry include *Os miró* and *Os trajo un regalo*.

| Spanish | English |
| --- | --- |
| *¿Os apetece un café?* | Do you fancy a coffee? |
| *Os veo mañana.* | I'll see you tomorrow. |
| *¿Dónde está vuestra casa?* | Where is your house? |
| *Traed vuestros libros.* | Bring your books. |

With *ustedes*, use *los* / *las* / *les* and *su* / *sus*, not *os* or *vuestro*, in Spain and in América. At the time of writing, the [DPD entry for *usted*](https://www.rae.es/dpd/usted) notes that *usted* and *ustedes* take third-person clitics and the possessive *su*, not *vuestro*, in Spain and in América. That agreement holds whether *ustedes* is polite in Spain or everyday in América.

## Why does ustedes take han, not habéis, in Spain and América?

Because *ustedes* is grammatically third person, even though it means "you", in Spain and in América. Social formality is a separate question: in most of Spain *ustedes* is the polite plural, and in América (and western Andalusia and the Canaries) it also covers informal groups, but the verb stays third person either way.

At the time of writing, the [DPD entry for *usted*](https://www.rae.es/dpd/usted) explains that although the referent is a second person, grammatically *usted* is a third-person pronoun, so the verb must be third person. The same entry marks mixing *ustedes* with a second-person plural verb as incorrect, and gives the corrected pattern *han trabajado hoy* rather than *habéis trabajado hoy*, in Spain and in América. So *ustedes* takes *han*, not *habéis*, in Spain and in América alike.

| Say this | Not this |
| --- | --- |
| *Vosotros habéis terminado.* | *Ustedes habéis terminado.* (mistake on purpose; needs *han* in Spain and in América) |
| *Ustedes han terminado.* (Spain and América) | *Ustedes tenéis razón.* (mistake on purpose; needs third-person *tienen* in Spain and América) |

If the group is informal in most of Spain, prefer *vosotros habéis*. If you are using *ustedes*, prefer *ustedes han*, whether the tone is polite in Spain or everyday in América.

## Vosotros lines to say out loud

Say each line twice: once reading the Spanish, once from the English prompt.

| Spanish | English prompt |
| --- | --- |
| *¿Qué queréis hacer?* | Ask friends what they want to do. |
| *¿Venís con nosotros?* | Ask if they are coming with you. |
| *¿Os apetece un café?* | Ask if they fancy a coffee. |
| *Sois muy simpáticos.* | Tell friends they are really nice. |
| *¿Habéis visto esto?* | Ask if they have seen this. |
| *Traed vuestras chaquetas.* | Tell them to bring their jackets. |
| *¿Cómo estáis?* | Ask how they are (plural, informal). |

*¿Habéis visto esto?* uses the Spain perfect with *vosotros*. That pairs with the perfect-for-today habit in [pretérito perfecto vs indefinido](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/preterito-perfecto-vs-indefinido/). For greeting a group, *¿Cómo estáis?* sits next to the lines in [Greetings in Spain](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/greetings-in-spain/).

If the endings still feel stiff, practise them as chunks rather than letter by letter. [How to sound more natural in Spanish](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/how-to-sound-more-natural-in-spanish/) covers that rhythm with Spain markers.

## Common vosotros mistakes to avoid

- **Skipping *vosotros* entirely for Spain.** In most of the country friends expect it. Leaving it out makes your Spanish sound as if you learned for América by default.
- **Using *ustedes* verb endings with *vosotros*.** *Vosotros hablan* (mistake on purpose) should be *vosotros habláis*, because third-person endings like *hablan* go with *ustedes* in Spain and in América.
- **Using *os* with *ustedes*.** Say *les gusta* or *los veo*, not *os gusta*, because *ustedes* takes third-person clitics in Spain and in América.
- **Assuming every region of Spain uses *vosotros* the same way.** Western Andalusia and the Canaries often use *ustedes* for informal groups in place of *vosotros*, as in América.
- **Translating "you guys" as *ustedes* with friends in Madrid.** Prefer *vosotros* unless you want polite distance; *ustedes* is the formal plural in most of Spain, and the everyday plural in América.

## How can I practise vosotros this week?

Pick five present forms (*queréis*, *sois*, *tenéis*, *vais*, *habéis*) and three *os* lines. Say them out loud daily in short questions. Absolute beginners can fold them into [Spanish speaking practice for beginners](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/spanish-speaking-practice-for-beginners/) and [Spanish sentences to practise speaking](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/articles/spanish-sentences-to-practise-speaking/).

Spanish Out Loud is coming soon to iPhone. You learn to speak Spain Spanish out loud with [Carlitos](https://learnspanishoutloud.com/#carlito), a friendly AI conversation partner who speaks Spain Spanish, corrects you gently and remembers what you tell him. Practise *¿Qué queréis?* and *¿Os apetece un café?* with him until the *vosotros* endings feel automatic.

*Vosotros* is a small system: the pronoun, the matching endings, *os* and *vuestro*, plus a clear contrast with *ustedes* in Spain and América. Learn that kit for most of Spain first, then adjust where *ustedes* covers informal groups in place of *vosotros*, as in América.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does vosotros mean in Spanish?

It means "you" when you are talking to more than one person informally. In most of Spain it is the everyday plural of tú.

### Is vosotros the same as ustedes?

No. In most of Spain vosotros is informal and ustedes is formal. In Latin America, and in western Andalusia and the Canaries, ustedes is used for informal groups in place of vosotros.

### Do I need to learn vosotros for Spain?

Yes, if you are learning for most of Spain. Friends, classmates and family will use it with you, and you will sound natural using it back.

### How do you conjugate vosotros in the present?

Regular patterns are -áis (habláis), -éis (coméis) and -ís (vivís). Common irregulars include sois, tenéis and vais.

### Can I say ustedes habéis?

No. At the time of writing, the RAE's DPD entry for usted says it is incorrect to pair ustedes with a second-person plural verb. Use ustedes han, or vosotros habéis with friends.

## Sources

1. [Real Academia Española and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, entry vosotros](https://www.rae.es/dpd/vosotros)
2. [Real Academia Española and ASALE: Diccionario panhispánico de dudas, entry usted](https://www.rae.es/dpd/usted)
3. [Real Academia Española and ASALE: Diccionario de la lengua española, entry vosotros](https://dle.rae.es/vosotros)
4. [Real Academia Española and ASALE: Diccionario de la lengua española, entry os](https://dle.rae.es/os)