What’s the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ in French?
When you’re only just starting to learn French, it can be quite confusing that two different pronouns exist to mean ‘you’ – ‘tu’ and ‘vous’.
But what is the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ and how can you use them correctly? Don’t worry – you’re about to find out.
‘Tu’ is the singular version of ‘vous’
In English, when you use ‘you’, it can mean both one person and multiple people.
To use ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ correctly in Frech, you need to know that there are separate words to say ‘you’ (one person) and ‘you’ (more than one person).
If you’re just speaking to one person, use ‘tu’.
If you’re speaking to more than one person, use ‘vous’.
This can be quite a tricky concept for English speakers but not so much for speakers of other languages. For example, in Polish, the singular version of ‘you’ is ‘ty’ and the plural version is ‘wy’. So, we already have two separate words for them – we just need to learn the translations.
English speakers, on the other hand, need to understand the difference between the different types of ‘you’, and then learn the translations.
Is that everything, then? Is ‘tu’ simply the singular version of ‘vous’? No, it’s not. There is more to it than that and I’m about to explain what I mean in a second.
‘Tu’ is the informal version of ‘vous’
Apart from being the singular version of ‘vous’, ‘tu’ is also the informal version of ‘vous’.
In French, whether you use ‘tu’ or ‘vous’ when addressing someone depends on how familiar your relationship is.
As a general rule, if you know someone very well, use ‘tu’. If you’re speaking to a stranger, use ‘vous’.
Things can get a bit complicated, though. Here’s a more detailed explanation of the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ in French and how to use them correctly.
When to use ‘tu’ rather than ‘vous’ in French
‘Tu’ is something you would use when talking to people you’re close to, such as family members, friends, your significant other, children, animals and inanimate objects.
Children and teenagers always use it when talking to each other, even if they’re talking to each other for the first time. When introduced to a new person as an adult, in a friendly situation, such as when meeting your other friends, you’ll also most likely be using ‘tu’ to address them.
‘Tu’ implies intimacy and familiarity. It also implies that you’re “equal” to the other person – I know this is quite an old-fashioned concept but language can be quite old-fashioned sometimes. See the section on using ‘vous’ in French below to see what I mean.
When you use ‘tu’ in French incorrectly, it may cause offence, as it may imply a lack of respect or even contempt. You will see what I mean once you’ve read the section about when to use ‘vous’ in French below.
When to use ‘vous’ rather than ‘tu’ in French
‘Vous’ in French is reserved for more formal contexts than ‘tu’. It implies a more formal or more distant relationship with the person you’re speaking to. And maybe also slightly less “equal”.
You would normally use ‘vous’ in French if you’re speaking to a complete stranger or if you’re in a professional situation (such as in a business meeting or a doctor’s office, for example).
It can be a sign of respect, too, so you can use it with people who are significantly older than you.
Be careful, though, as using ‘vous’ unnecessarily can create a bit of distance between you and the person you’re talking to.
How do you know whether to use ‘tu’ or ‘vous’
Sometimes it can be a little bit confusing as to whether you should be using ‘tu’ or ‘vous’ when speaking French.
If you’re unsure, you can always wait for the other person to speak first and then follow their lead. If they use ‘tu’ then you can assume that you can use ‘tu’ as well. If they use ‘vous’, you may want to let them know that ‘tu’ is fine (‘On peut se tutoyer’ – ‘We can use ‘tu’ when addressing each other’), and they may tell you the same thing.
Or, if you want to or need to speak first, you can always just use ‘vous’ to be on the safe side, and the person may then tell you it’s ok to use ‘tu’.
‘Tu’ and ‘vous’ in other areas of the French language
The decision as to whether to use ‘tu’ or ‘vous’ when speaking French has some implications for other areas of the language you use.
For example, when you need to say ‘your’, you will need to adapt that as well, based on the relationship you have with the person you’re speaking to.
If you’re using ‘tu’ to speak to someone, you will just need to use ‘ta’ or ‘ton’ to say ‘your’. For example, ‘ta soeur’ (‘your sister’) or ‘ton mari’ (‘your husband’).
When using ‘vous’, on the other hand, you will need to use ‘votre’ to say ‘your’. For example, ‘votre soeur’ or ‘votre mari’.
Similarly, when using reflexive pronouns, you will need to adapt them too. So, it will be ‘assieds-toi’ (‘sit down’, when using ‘tu’ to address someone) but ‘asseyez-vous’ (when using ‘vous’).
I hope you found this explanation of the difference between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ useful!