Tu and Vous

There are two words for "YOU" in French. It is important to know when to use TU and when to use VOUS.

a) Tu pronounced as Tyoo
b) Vous pronounced as Voo.

Tu and Vous came from two verbs - Tutoyer and Vouvoyer.

Tutoyer means to call someone TU.
Vouvoyer means to call someone VOUS.

In formal speech used VOUS when speaking to

1) A person you don't know well.
2) A person you want to show respect to an older person.
3) A person with authority.

Vous is the plural "you". It is always used when you are talking to more than one person or thing. Vous can be used in the singular form to show respect or maintain a certain distance from a person.

In informal speech used TU when speaking to just one person whom you know well. It is used in the singular form to show a certain closeness and informality. Tu is never used in the plural form.

Examples:

1) A friend
2) A relative
3) A colleague
4) A child
5) A pet.

NOTE: As a rule of thumb, use tu when you call that person by his first name. Otherwise use vous.