FORMAL VS. INFORMAL GREETINGS

Lección Preliminar

IN SPANISH THERE ARE FORMAL AND INFORMAL (FAMILIAR) WAYS TO SAY THINGS.

Formal vs. Informal (Familiar)

THIS AFFECTS THE WORDS WE USE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS

Expressions Titles Verb endings

IN ENGLISH, WE DISTINGUISH FORMALITY MOST OF THE TIME BY USING TITLES.

For example, you wouldn’t call your principal by his or her first name. You would use Mr. or Mrs. and their last name.

Formal vs. Informal in English

IN SPANISH, WE HAVE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FORMS FOR TALKING TO SOMEONE DIRECTLY THAT DETERMINE WHETHER YOU ARE ADDRESSING THEM FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY.

Informal (or familiar) = Tú Formal = Usted

IT IS INFORMAL OR FAMILIAR.

You use this form when you are addressing

someone directly that: A person your own age or younger A friend, sometimes relatives A person you call by his or her first name

#1 “Tú” = “you” informally

The familiar form or the “tú” form will sometimes

include the word “tú”, but not always.

Informal greetings we have learned so far are: ¿Cómo estás (tú)? = How are you? (tú is often left out)

¿Y tú? = and you?

Familiar (informal)

Other informal forms we have learned are: ¿Qué tal? = How’s it going? ¿Qué pasa? = What’s up? ¿Qué onda? What’s up? (Mexico)

IT IS FORMAL OR RESPECTFUL TO

ADDRESS SOMEONE AS “USTED”

You use this form when you are addressing

someone directly that: a person you don’t know someone older a person with whom you want to show respect, such as in a

business or formal situation.

#2. “Usted” = “you” formally

The formal form in Spanish is referred to as

the “usted form” and will most often have the

word usted in the greeting, statement or

question.

Formal greetings we have learned so far are: ¿Cómo está usted? = How are you? (usted is optional,

but often left in to accentuate the formality)

¿Cómo está ? = How are you? ¿Y usted? = and you? (formally)

Formal (respectful)

IN FORMAL SITUATIONS, IT IS MOST COMMON TO USE: buenos días, buenas tardes buenas noches

IN FAMILIAR SITUATIONS, YOU CAN USE THESE OR JUST A SIMPLE “HOLA”

IT IS MOST COMMON WHEN ADDRESSING SOMEONE FORMALLY TO USE THEIR TITLE AND THEIR LAST NAME.

EXAMPLES: Señor Ramírez (Mr. Ramirez)Señora Ramos (Mrs. Ramos)Señorita García (Miss. García)

Other formal/informal notes

Las Respuestas Possibles(Possible Responses)

(Muy) bien(Muy) malMás o menosRegularTerribleEstupendo(a)Tranquilo(a)

(Very) well(Very) badSo-soOkayTerribleStupendousCalm

Formal Formal Familiar (Informal)Familiar (Informal)

¿Y usted? ¿Y tú?

Para preguntar al révez(To ask in return)

Marisol: ¡Buenos días, Señor García! ¿Cómo está usted?

Señor Garcia: ¡Hola, Marisol! Estoy bien, ¿y tú? ¿Cómo estás?

Marisol: ¡Estoy muy muy muy muy bien!(Estoy = I am)

Senor Garcia: ¿Porqué?(Porqué = why)

Marisol: ¡Yo saqué una “A”!(I got an A!)

Sample Conversation

Self Check

Can you name at least 3 familiar greetings?

Can you name at least 1 formal greeting?

What is the difference between the two types of greetings?

Práctica

3 Familiar Greetings1.

2. 3.

1 Formal Greeting1.

5 Possible Responses1. 3. 5.

2. 4.