Kilo Lingo

/tu/

#52 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

you (informal singular subject)

Word origin

From Latin tu ('you'), unchanged in form for two thousand years; the same root gives French tu and Italian tu.

Origin
Latin
Root
tu
English cognates
thou

Examples

¿ ?

What do you think about all this?

.

You always arrive before me.

, .

Between you and me, I do not like it at all.

, .

If you do not come, we are not going.

.

It is you who decides.

is the informal second-person singular subject pronoun - the "you" for friends, family, children and anyone you are on first-name terms with. The written accent is load-bearing: is the pronoun, tu without the accent is the possessive ("tu casa" - your house). One mark, two different words.

As with every Spanish subject pronoun, is usually left out - "hablas" already means "you speak". Use it for emphasis or contrast ("tú decides"), and choose it over usted whenever the situation is friendly rather than formal; most of Latin America and all of Spain use it freely among peers.

Where this fits

Used in

Grammar articles

(48)

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tú: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Spanish word "tú" (you (informal singular subject)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 2.