How To Use Vos In Spanish | Vos vs. Tú?
Have you ever wondered how to use Vos in Spanish?
Maybe you’ve heard Vos being used and had no idea what it meant?
Keep in mind, I’m not talking about voz (voice) in Spanish, but I’m talking about the pronoun vos which can be substituted for tú.
Basically, Vos means tú (you) in Spanish.
But pay attention because Vos has its own conjugations and using it in a sentence can be tricky…
And even if you aren’t using Vos when you speak Spanish, it’s important to know how to use it because you may hear other Native Spanish speakers use it instead of tú.
In today’s article, you will discover how to use Vos in Spanish and when to use Vos in Spanish.
Where Did Vos Come From In Spanish?
The best thing about Spanish is also one of the most difficult things about Spanish… and that is that we all speak it differently.
Each of the 22 countries in which Spanish is the official language—and each region within those countries—has contributed, over the centuries, its own peculiarities to the language.
That’s why you may have never heard of el voseo, despite the fact that about 100 million Spanish speakers use it on a daily basis.
As I mentioned earlier, El Voseo refers to the pronoun “Vos” instead of the pronoun “Tú” or “Usted.” Although in most cases usted is still used in formal contexts.
The origin of el voseo lies in the treatment given to the nobility in times of the Spanish colonies, which should be referred to as “your majesty.”
But over time, the citizens began adopting, and altering this expression to use it in their daily life until it became “you.”
Today el voseo is most commonly used in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, where the tú is very infrequent and the usted is reserved for formality; so Vos is an informal You.
It is also used—although less and depending on the region—in Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, and some Central American countries, such as Costa Rica or Nicaragua.
Where is El Voseo Used?
Today el voseo is most commonly used in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, where the tú is very infrequent and the usted is reserved for formality; so Vos is an informal You.
It is also used—although less and depending on the region—in Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, and some Central American countries, such as Costa Rica or Nicaragua.
The Difference Between Vos and Tú
Here are a few examples of how Vos can replace Tú in a sentence in Spanish:
Tú no deberías jugar al fútbol, eres tan malo como si tuvieras dos pies izquierdos.
Vos no deberías jugar al fútbol, sos tan malo como si tuvieras dos pies izquierdos.
You shouldn’t play soccer, you are so bad it’s as if you had two left feet.
Tú puedes hacer lo que te propongas.
Vos podés hacer lo que te propongas.
You can do what you propose.
¿Tú juegas al Minecraft?
¿Vos jugás al Minecraft?
Do you play Minecraft?
How To Conjugate Vos in Spanish
As I said in the beginning, one of the most complex characteristics of Spanish is that it changes according to each country and each region, and the voseo is a great example of this versatility.
In practice, the accepted forms of the voseo conjugations depend on the regularity of each verb, as well as the customs of use of each place.
However, there are some general rules that can serve as a guide.
In the case of the vast majority of regular verbs in the present tense, when the infinitives end in er, ar or ir, the last syllable is replaced with és, ás or ís, respectively:
Examples of conjugating Vos in the present tense:
When the verb ends in ER:
Tú muerdes la punta de mi lápiz.
Vos mordés la punta de mi lápiz.
Tú corres la maratón hasta el final.
Vos corrés la maratón hasta el final.
Tú no pierdes nunca.
Vos no perdés nunca.
When the verb ends in AR:
Tú pisas primero con el pie derecho.
Vos pisás primero con el pie derecho.
¡Tú actúas muy bien!
¡Vos actuás muy bien!
Tú no andas muy bien en bicicleta, ¿verdad?
Vos no andás muy bien en bicicleta, ¿verdad?
When the verb ends in IR:
¿Tú escribes todos los días?
¿Vos escribís todos los días?
Tú añades sal a todas tus comidas.
Vos añadís sal a todas tus comidas.
Tú no te arrepientes de lo que hiciste.
Vos no te arrepentís de lo que hiciste.
Examples Of Conjugating Vos in the Past and Future Tense
In the case of the vast majority of regular verbs both in the past tense and in the future tense, on the other hand, there are almost never changes in the conjugation.
Tú mordías mi porción de pizza.
Vos mordías mi porción de pizza.
Tú actuabas muy bien en la escuela.
Vos actuabas muy bien en la escuela.
Tú no te arrepentías tanto.
Vos no te arrepentías tanto.
Examples Of Conjugating Vos in the Future Tense
Tú correrás como un profesional algún día.
Vos correrás como un profesional algún día.
Tú andarás por los caminos del mundo.
Vos andarás por los caminos del mundo.
Tú nos escribirás todos los meses, ¿verdad?
Vos nos escribirás todos los meses, ¿verdad?
Other Forms and Uses Of Vos
Vos can also be used to replace the ti:
Voy a ser honesto contigo.
Voy a ser honesto con vos.
Me encanta sentarme junto a ti.
Me encanta sentarme junto a vos.
How To Give Commands With Vos:
In the case of most regular imperative verbs, those used to give orders or command, when the verb ends in er or ar, they are replaced with an é or an á, depending on the case:
¡Tú corre hasta la esquina!
¡Vos corré hasta la esquina!
¡Tú pasa por la rectoría!
¡Vos pasá por la rectoría!
When the verb ends in ir, it is replaced with í.
¡Tú pide la cena!
¡Vos pedí la cena!
¡Tú escribe tu nombre en la pizarra!
¡Vos escribí tu nombre en la pizarra!
Irregular “Vos” Spanish Verbs
Finally, there is a universe of irregular uses of the voseo conjugations, but it is not necessary to know them all by heart.
Knowing the most useful will help though:
Tú eres una gran persona.
Vos sos una gran persona.
¿Qué dices tú que hagamos?
¿Qué decís vos que hagamos?
Disculpa, pero tú hueles mal.
Disculpa, pero vos olés mal.
How To Use Vos in Spanish Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Vos and Tú?
Vos and Tú are both used to address the informal You in Spanish. While most Spanish speaking countries use the Tú, there are a few countries that exclusively use el voseo.
What countries use Vos instead of Tú?
Today el voseo is most commonly used in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, where the tú is very infrequent and the usted is reserved for formality; so Vos is an informal You.
It is also used—although less and depending on the region—in Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, and some Central American countries, such as Costa Rica or Nicaragua.
How to Conjugate Vos in the Present Tense?
In the case of the vast majority of regular verbs in the present tense, when the infinitives end in er, ar or ir, the last syllable is replaced with és, ás or ís.
How To Conjugate Vos in the Past and Future Tense?
In the case of the vast majority of regular verbs both in the past tense and in the future tense, there are almost never changes in the conjugation.
Are you going to try to use Vos?
El voseo is a cultural mark of a large number of countries.
It is not essential, but it is a useful tool to help you communicate with those people who use it on a daily basis.
It will also help you better understand Spanish from the countries that use Vos in Spanish.
And of course, it is a way to deepen your knowledge of the language.
Vos, que estás leyendo, ¿me entendiste?
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