Voseo is the use of vos (instead of tú) as the singular informal you. Standard in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, much of Central America, and parts of Colombia. Vos has distinct verb conjugations in the present and commands.

How do you conjugate verbs with vos?

Present: drop -r from infinitive, add -s, accent last syllable: hablar > hablás, tener > tenés, vivir > vivís. Ser is irregular: vos sos. Affirmative commands: drop -r, accent: hablá, vení, decí.

Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay (universal). Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala (common). Parts of Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador (regional). NOT used in Mexico, Spain, Caribbean.

Should I learn voseo or tú?

Depends on where you'll use Spanish. If Argentina, Uruguay, or Costa Rica is your target, learn voseo from the start. Otherwise, learn tú first (works everywhere) and add voseo if you spend time in voseante countries.

How can I master voseo?

Memorize the formula (drop -r, add -s, accent end), drill ser (sos), and practice vos commands. Watch Argentine or Uruguayan content (movies, YouTube, music). Parrot's videos surface natural voseo from native speakers.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Voseo in Spanish: Complete Guide to Vos in Argentina and Beyond

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Voseo = the use of vos instead of tú as the informal you, dominant in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Central America. Vos has its own conjugations: vos sos (not tú eres), vos tenés (not tú tienes), vos hablás (not tú hablas).

Vos sos mi amigo. (Argentina)

You are my friend.

What it is

Voseo is the use of vos (instead of tú) as the singular informal you. Standard across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and widespread in much of Central America and parts of Colombia. Vos has its own conjugations that differ from tú forms.

In Argentina you'd say Vos sos mi amigo (You are my friend), not Tú eres mi amigo. The verb sos = vos form of ser.

How to spot it

Voseo replaces tú in: subject pronoun (vos vs tú), verb conjugations (sos, tenés, hablás), and affirmative commands (tené, vení, hablá). Object pronouns (te) and possessives (tu / tus / tuyo) stay the same.

Vos sos increíble. — You are amazing. (Arg.)
¿Tenés tiempo? — Do you have time? (Arg.)
Hablá más despacio. — Speak more slowly. (Arg. command)

If you're learning Spanish in Argentina, Uruguay, or Costa Rica, learn voseo from day one. Tú is understood but sounds foreign in those regions.

Voseo in Spanish Quick Reference

Tú vs. Vos: present tense

Verb	Tú form	Vos form
ser	tú eres	vos sos
tener	tú tienes	vos tenés
hablar	tú hablas	vos hablás
comer	tú comes	vos comés
vivir	tú vives	vos vivís
querer	tú quieres	vos querés
poder	tú puedes	vos podés
venir	tú vienes	vos venís

Common Voseo in Spanish Examples in Spanish

Voseo in real contexts:

Subject Pronoun and Ser

Vos sos mi mejor amigo.: You are my best friend.
¿Vos sos de Buenos Aires?: Are you from Buenos Aires?
Vos sos muy amable.: You're very kind.
Vos no sos así.: You're not like that.
Sos genial, ¿sabés?: You're awesome, you know?

Vos sos replaces tú eres entirely in voseante regions.

Vos with Other Verbs (Present)

Vos tenés razón.: You're right.
¿Qué hacés esta noche?: What are you doing tonight?
Vos hablás muy bien.: You speak very well.
¿Vivís en Córdoba?: Do you live in Córdoba?
Querés un café?: Want a coffee?

Voseo present = drop -r from infinitive, add -s, accent the last syllable: hablar > hablás, comer > comés, vivir > vivís.

Vos Affirmative Commands

Hablá más despacio.: Speak slower.
Vení acá.: Come here.
Tené paciencia.: Have patience.
Decime la verdad.: Tell me the truth.
Mirá esto.: Look at this.

Vos commands = drop -r from infinitive, accent last syllable. Mostly regular, including from verbs that are irregular in tú (vos: vení, decí; tú: ven, di).

Where Voseo Is Used

Argentina y Uruguay: voseo total.: Full voseo.
Paraguay: voseo común.: Common voseo.
Costa Rica, Nicaragua: voseo standard.: Standard voseo.
Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala: voseo coexists with tú.: Mixed.
Mexico, Spain, Caribbean: no voseo, only tú.: No voseo.

Voseo is most rigorous in Río de la Plata region (Arg/Uru). Other countries use it but mix it with tú depending on context.

How to Form Voseo

Present Tense: Drop -r, Add -s, Accent Last Syllable

Take infinitive (hablar), drop -r (habla), add -s (hablas), accent last syllable (hablás). Same pattern for -er (comés) and -ir (vivís). Most irregulars become regular in vos: vos tenés (not *tienés), vos podés.

hablar > hablás. tener > tenés. vivir > vivís.

Regular vos pattern.

Drop -r, add -s, accent end.

Ser Is the Big Exception

Vos sos is the irregular vos form of ser (NOT *vos eres / *vos serés). Otherwise, most stem-changing verbs lose their stem change in vos (tú piensas > vos pensás).

Vos sos. (You are.)

Sos is irregular.

Vos sos.

Commands: Drop -r, Accent Last Syllable

Affirmative vos commands = drop -r from infinitive, accent last syllable. hablar > hablá. tener > tené. venir > vení. decir > decí. Most are regular (unlike tú commands).

Hablá. Vení. Decí.

Regular vos commands.

Drop -r, accent.

Object Pronouns + Possessives Don't Change

Voseo only changes subject pronoun + verb conjugation. Object pronoun (te), reflexive (te), and possessive (tu, tus, tuyo) stay the same. Te quiero, tu casa. No *vos quiero / *vuestra casa.

Te quiero, tu casa.

Pronouns unchanged.

Only subject + verb change.

Common Mistakes with Voseo in Spanish

Incorrect: Vos eres muy amable. — You are very kind.

Correct: Vos sos muy amable. — You are very kind.

Vos uses its own conjugation, not tú's. The vos form of ser is sos (irregular), not eres.

Incorrect: Vos tienes razón. — You are right.

Correct: Vos tenés razón. — You are right.

Stem-changing verbs (tener, querer, poder) lose their stem change in vos. Drop -r, add -s, accent the last syllable: tenés.

Incorrect: Ven aquí, che. — Come here, dude. (Arg.)

Correct: Vení acá, che. — Come here, dude. (Arg.)

Vos has its own command form. Drop -r and accent: vení. Also acá is more typical than aquí in voseante regions.

Voseo Verb Conjugation Rules

Other Tenses Mostly Use Tú Forms

Voseo is most marked in present tense and commands. In other tenses (preterite, imperfect, future, subjunctive), voseo speakers typically use the same forms as tú: vos tuviste, vos tenías, vos tendrás. Some regions also use voseo subjunctive (vos tengás) but this is less universal.

Vos tuviste suerte. (preterite, like tú): You were lucky.
Vos tenías razón. (imperfect): You were right.
Vos vendrás mañana. (future): You'll come tomorrow.
Espero que tengás cuidado. (vos subjunctive, Arg.): I hope you're careful.

Argentina + Uruguay typically use tú forms in past / future. Central American voseo often uses vos subjunctive (tengás, hablés). Pay attention to regional preference.

Voseo in Spanish FAQs

What is voseo?: Voseo is the use of vos (instead of tú) as the singular informal you. Standard in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, much of Central America, and parts of Colombia. Vos has distinct verb conjugations in the present and commands.
How do you conjugate verbs with vos?: Present: drop -r from infinitive, add -s, accent last syllable: hablar > hablás, tener > tenés, vivir > vivís. Ser is irregular: vos sos. Affirmative commands: drop -r, accent: hablá, vení, decí.
Where is voseo used?: Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay (universal). Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala (common). Parts of Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador (regional). NOT used in Mexico, Spain, Caribbean.
Should I learn voseo or tú?: Depends on where you'll use Spanish. If Argentina, Uruguay, or Costa Rica is your target, learn voseo from the start. Otherwise, learn tú first (works everywhere) and add voseo if you spend time in voseante countries.
How can I master voseo?: Memorize the formula (drop -r, add -s, accent end), drill ser (sos), and practice vos commands. Watch Argentine or Uruguayan content (movies, YouTube, music). Parrot's videos surface natural voseo from native speakers.