In relation to studying French, one of many questions that comes up again and again is – how are you aware whether or not to say tu, or vous? Manon Dewitte of French Espresso Break explains…
Though tu and vous each imply you – they’re for use in several conditions.
Tu – is for casual conditions – like once you’re speaking to buddies or household – however not all household! For example when speaking to your in-laws it’s frequent to make use of vous.
If you happen to use ‘tu’ within the improper circumstances – it might probably simply be taken as you being a bit disrespectful.
Use ‘vous’ as an alternative of ‘tu’ and that can also appear improper – possibly unfriendly.
Vouvoyer: To speak utilizing ‘vous’ is known as to vouvoyer in French. It’s for once you’re having a proper dialog, or speaking to individuals you don’t know, academics, older individuals or these in authority.
Tutoyer: Speak utilizing ‘tu’ is tutoyer in French. If you happen to met somebody for the primary time and used ‘vous’ you possibly can transfer onto ‘tu’ infact you possibly can even recommend ‘lets tutoyer’ in the event you’re unsure!
Tu is for buddies, household (besides sometimes when speaking to elders, some households apply vous), once you’re speaking to kids, and colleagues.
So how are you aware which to make use of?
It’s at all times greatest to play it secure in the event you’re unsure and use ‘vous’. The individual you’re speaking to can at all times say ‘let’s tutoyer, let’s use tu’ (Tu peux me tutoyer ! Tutoie-moi !) Or you possibly can ask them – lets use tu/Can I say tu to you? (On se tutoie ? Je peux te tutoyer ?)
You shouldn’t combine tu and vous in the identical sentence. So as an example in the event you ask somebody for assist, and use the expression for please, hold to casual or formal.
Excuse-moi, tu peux m’aider, s’il te plaît ?”
or
Excusez-moi, vous pouvez m’aider, s’il vous plaît ?
Et toi?
And, only for slightly frisson of complication – there’s additionally ‘toi’! We French are well-known for our grammar guidelines and so they can appear advanced, however as soon as you understand how all of it works, all the things slots into place.
Take ‘toi’ – which additionally means you. Like ‘tu’ however in some circumstances we use ‘toi’. Tu is used as a direct topic as an example ‘comment-vas-tu’ – how are you.
Toi is oblique, and follows a verb or preposition as an example with, of or for. For instance ‘je voyage avec toi’ (I’m travelling with you). Or generally once you ask somebody how they’re they could say ‘je vais bien. Et toi?’
Not like ‘tu’ and ‘vous’, ‘tu’ and ‘toi’ can seem in the identical sentence: Moi, je suis française et toi, tu es Anglais. Me, I’m French and also you, you’re English. In French you utilize ‘moi’ et ‘toi’ to stress the topic – but it surely’s not obligatory.
It might probably take slightly apply to get it proper, however apply makes excellent proper?!
Wish to apply and enhance your French then be a part of Manon’s French Espresso Break courses – vous can be talking French very quickly: frenchcoffeebreak.com/en
