What's the difference between vosotros and ustedes?

Vosotros = informal you-all, used ONLY in Spain. Ustedes = formal you-all in Spain, and ALL you-all (formal and informal) in Latin America. Different conjugations: vosotros habláis vs. ustedes hablan.

When should I use vosotros?

Only if you're in Spain or speaking with Spaniards, and addressing a group of friends / family / peers informally. Otherwise, use ustedes.

Do Latin Americans understand vosotros?

Yes, they understand it (from books, movies, Bible). But they don't use it. If you use vosotros in Mexico or Argentina, you'll sound archaic. Stick with ustedes.

Should I learn vosotros?

If you'll spend time in Spain: yes, learn it. Otherwise, learn ustedes first (works everywhere) and add vosotros as a passive skill (understand it but don't actively use it). Parrot teaches both with regional context.

Spanish grammar · Beginner

Vosotros vs. Ustedes: The Complete Guide for Spanish Learners

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

Vosotros = informal you all, used ONLY in Spain. Ustedes = formal you all in Spain, and ALL you all (both formal and informal) in Latin America. Vosotros has its own verb forms (habláis, tenéis); ustedes uses third-person plural (hablan, tienen).

Vosotros habláis (Spain). Ustedes hablan (LatAm).

You all speak.

What it is

Vosotros (you all, informal) is used ONLY in Spain. Ustedes (you all) is used everywhere: it's the only you-all form in Latin America (formal AND informal), and the formal you-all in Spain.

In Spain: Vosotros habláis español (informal) vs. Ustedes hablan español (formal). In Latin America: Ustedes hablan español covers both.

How to spot it

Vosotros has its own conjugations: vosotros habláis, tenéis, sois, vais. Ustedes uses third-person plural: ustedes hablan, tienen, son, van. If you're not in Spain, you can skip vosotros entirely.

¿Vosotros venís? (Spain) — Are you all coming?
¿Ustedes vienen? (LatAm + Spain formal) — Are you all coming?
Vosotros sois geniales. (Spain) — You all are great.

Most Latin Americans never use vosotros - they'd use ustedes for ALL groups, including close friends. Spaniards use both, depending on formality.

Vosotros vs. Ustedes Quick Reference

Vosotros vs. ustedes overview

Form	Where Used	Verb Pattern
vosotros	Spain (informal you-all)	vosotros habláis, tenéis
ustedes (Spain)	Spain (formal you-all)	ustedes hablan, tienen
ustedes (LatAm)	All of Latin America	ustedes hablan, tienen
Subject pronouns	vosotros / vosotras vs. ustedes	Vosotros = informal; ustedes = formal / LatAm any
Object pronoun	os (vosotros) vs. los / las / les	Os veo. Los veo.
Possessive	vuestro / vuestra vs. su	Vuestra casa. Su casa.

Common Vosotros vs. Ustedes Examples in Spanish

Side-by-side: vosotros (Spain) vs. ustedes (everywhere):

Vosotros (Spain Informal)

Vosotros habláis muy bien.: You all speak very well.
¿Tenéis hambre?: Are you all hungry?
Vosotros sois mis amigos.: You all are my friends.
Os veo mañana.: I'll see you all tomorrow.
¡Venid acá!: Come here, you all!

Only used in Spain, for close friends, family, peers. Vosotros also has its own command form (venid, hablad, comed).

Ustedes (Latin America - All Groups)

Ustedes hablan muy bien.: You all speak very well.
¿Tienen hambre?: Are you all hungry?
Ustedes son mis amigos.: You all are my friends.
Los veo mañana.: I'll see you all tomorrow.
¡Vengan acá!: Come here, you all!

In Latin America, ustedes is used for ALL groups: friends, family, strangers. No distinction between formal and informal.

Ustedes (Spain Formal)

Ustedes hablan muy bien, señores.: You all speak very well, gentlemen.
¿Tienen una reserva?: Do you all have a reservation?
Ustedes son nuestros clientes.: You all are our clients.
Los atiendo enseguida.: I'll attend to you right away.
Pasen, por favor.: Please come in.

In Spain, ustedes is reserved for formal contexts: addressing strangers, elders, customers, professional settings.

Possessives and Object Pronouns

Vuestra casa es linda. (Spain inf.): Your home is lovely.
Su casa es linda. (LatAm / Spain formal): Your home is lovely.
Os escribo mañana. (Spain inf.): I'll write to you all.
Les escribo mañana. (LatAm / Spain formal): I'll write to you all.
Vuestros libros / sus libros.: Your books.

Vosotros = vuestro / vuestra / vuestros / vuestras + os pronoun. Ustedes = su / sus + los / las / les pronouns.

How to Pick Between Vosotros and Ustedes

Outside Spain: Always Ustedes

In every Latin American country, ustedes is the ONLY you-all form. Use it for everyone: best friends, parents, children, strangers, elders. Vosotros is not used in Latin America; if you say vosotros, you'll sound like you're reading the Bible.

LatAm: ustedes hablan, ustedes tienen.

Always ustedes outside Spain.

LatAm = ustedes always.

In Spain: Vosotros (Informal) vs. Ustedes (Formal)

Spaniards distinguish: vosotros for friends, family, peers. Ustedes for strangers, elders, customers, professional contexts. The choice mirrors the tú vs. usted distinction but in plural.

Spain: vosotros (friends), ustedes (formal).

Spain has both.

Spain: informal = vosotros.

Vosotros Has Its Own Forms

Vosotros conjugations are unique: -áis (-ar), -éis (-er), -ís (-ir). Vosotros habláis, coméis, vivís. Affirmative commands: -ad / -ed / -id (hablad, comed, venid). Object pronoun: os. Possessive: vuestro / vuestra.

Vosotros habláis. Comed. Os veo. Vuestra casa.

Unique vosotros system.

Vosotros = unique conjugations.

Ustedes Uses Third-Person Plural Forms

Ustedes conjugates like ellos / ellas: ustedes hablan, comen, viven (3rd plural). Commands use the same form as subjunctive: hablen, coman, vengan. Object pronoun: los / las / les. Possessive: su / sus.

Ustedes hablan. ¡Vengan! Su casa.

Like 3rd person plural.

Ustedes = like ellos.

Common Mistakes with Vosotros vs. Ustedes

Incorrect: Vosotros hablan español. (Spain) — You all speak Spanish.

Correct: Vosotros habláis español. — You all speak Spanish.

Vosotros takes its own conjugation (-áis / -éis / -ís), not ustedes' third-person plural. Don't mix vosotros pronoun with hablan.

Incorrect: Niños, vosotros habláis muy bien. (Mexico) — Kids, you all speak very well.

Correct: Niños, ustedes hablan muy bien. — Kids, you all speak very well.

In Mexico (and all of Latin America), vosotros isn't used even for kids / close friends. Always use ustedes.

Incorrect: Os veo mañana. (LatAm) — I'll see you all tomorrow.

Correct: Los veo mañana. — I'll see you all tomorrow.

Os is the vosotros object pronoun, only used in Spain. In Latin America, use los / las / les (ustedes pronouns).

Vosotros Verb Conjugations

Vosotros Across Tenses

Vosotros has unique endings in every tense. Present: -áis / -éis / -ís. Preterite: -asteis / -isteis. Imperfect: -abais / -íais. Future: -aréis / -eréis / -iréis. Subjunctive: -éis / -áis. Affirmative command: -ad / -ed / -id. Negative command uses subjunctive: no habléis.

Vosotros hablasteis (preterite).: You all spoke.
Vosotros teníais (imperfect).: You all had.
Vosotros vendréis (future).: You all will come.
Que vosotros habléis (subjunctive).: That you all speak.
¡Venid! (command) / ¡No vengáis! (neg.): Come! / Don't come!

Spaniards use these forms naturally. Latin Americans typically only know them passively (from Spanish movies / books).

Vosotros vs. Ustedes FAQs

What's the difference between vosotros and ustedes?: Vosotros = informal you-all, used ONLY in Spain. Ustedes = formal you-all in Spain, and ALL you-all (formal and informal) in Latin America. Different conjugations: vosotros habláis vs. ustedes hablan.
When should I use vosotros?: Only if you're in Spain or speaking with Spaniards, and addressing a group of friends / family / peers informally. Otherwise, use ustedes.
Do Latin Americans understand vosotros?: Yes, they understand it (from books, movies, Bible). But they don't use it. If you use vosotros in Mexico or Argentina, you'll sound archaic. Stick with ustedes.
How do you conjugate vosotros verbs?: Present: -áis (-ar), -éis (-er), -ís (-ir): habláis, coméis, vivís. Commands: -ad / -ed / -id: hablad, comed, venid. Object pronoun: os. Possessive: vuestro / vuestra. Unique system.
Should I learn vosotros?: If you'll spend time in Spain: yes, learn it. Otherwise, learn ustedes first (works everywhere) and add vosotros as a passive skill (understand it but don't actively use it). Parrot teaches both with regional context.