“Tu” or “Vous”?
The Art of Addressing People in French 🇫🇷
If you’ve ever tried speaking French, you’ve probably hesitated before saying tu or vous.
Both mean “you”… but the choice between them can completely change the tone of your sentence — and even how people perceive you.
So how do French speakers decide which one to use?
Today we’ll break it down together:
-What tu and vous really mean
-When to use each form
-How they change the grammar
-How the French switch from one to the other
Ready? Let’s go!
1. What do “tu” and “vous” mean?
In French, there are two ways to say “you”:
“Tu” is the informal version. It’s friendly, familiar, and used to create closeness.
“Vous” is the formal version. It expresses politeness, distance, or respect.
So, the difference isn’t about number only — it’s also about relationship and tone.
Think of tu as a bridge and vous as a boundary: one brings you closer, the other keeps space between you.
2. When to use “tu” and when to use “vous”
Everyday French social life runs on small unspoken rules — and this is one of them.
You’ll usually say “tu” to:
-friends, family, partners
-people your age or younger
-colleagues you get along with informally
You’ll prefer “vous” for:
-strangers and people you’ve just met
-older people or authority figures
-professional situations (interviews, clients, etc.)
Sometimes, it’s all about intuition and context.
A casual startup in Paris might run on tu, while a traditional law office will probably stay with vous.
3. How to use them correctly
Grammatically, tu and vous change how you conjugate verbs — and how you form sentences.
With “tu”, use the 2nd person singular:
-Tu comprends ? → Do you understand?
-Tu veux venir ? → Do you want to come?
With “vous”, use the 2nd person plural:
-Vous comprenez ? → Do you understand?
-Vous voulez venir ? → Do you want to come?
But when in doubt, start with “vous.” No one will ever blame you for being too polite!
