English subject pronouns are divided into the following categories: first person – the person speaking, second person – the person spoken to, and third person – the person spoken about. These categories are further divided into singular and plural. While a similar structure is used in Spanish, there are differences in the way that certain subject pronouns are used.

First Person

While the first person yo works very much like in English, the “we” has two forms based on the gender composition of the group. If the group and speaker are all females then the nosotras form is used, but if there is a single male in the group, then the nosotros form is required. While the Spanish Academy of Languages has suggested recently that this be changed to agree with the gender of the majority, adoption of this will likely take some time in mainstream culture.

Ejemplos

• Yo soy director. (I am a director.)
• Yo soy canadiense. (I am Canadian.)
• Nosotros somos directores. (We (male or male+female) are directors.)
• Nosotras somos directoras. (We (all female) are directors.)

Second Person

Unlike English, Spanish has four forms for “you” based on number and the speaker’s familiarity with the person or persons that are being addressed.

The formal forms usted and ustedes are used to address anyone that you are not very familiar with or individuals for whom you should have respect or deference based on their age, seniority, or position, for example doctors, lawyers, your boss or a new acquaintance.

Ejemplos

• Usted es el presidente. (You (formal singular) are the president.)
• Usted es muy inteligente. (You (formal singular) are very intelligent.)
• Ustedes hablan inglés. (You (formal plural) speak English.)
• ¿Ustedes son ingenieros? (Are you (formal plural) engineers?)

The familiar forms tú and vosotros/as are used with anyone that you are on close terms with, for example your family, friends, children, pets or anyone that you would feel comfortable in calling by their first name only. The vosotros/as form is utilized strictly in Spain and is not used in Latin America, in its place the Latin Americans use the ustedes form. Vosotros like “nosotros” also has to agree in gender based on the composition of the group.

• Tú eres el presidente. (You (familiar singular) are the president.)
• Tú eres muy inteligente. (You (familiar singular) are very intelligent.)
• Vosotros habláis inglés. (You (familiar plural: Spain) speak English.)
• ¿Vosotros sois ingenieros? (Are you (familiar plural: Spain) engineers?)
• Ustedes hablan inglés. (You (familiar plural:LA) speak English.)
• ¿Ustedes son ingenieros? (Are you (familiar plural:LA) engineers?)

There are circumstances when you will choose to break the formal vs. informal conventions, however, these alter the meaning of what you are saying.

In corporate settings it is always a good idea to use the formal until the individual requests that you use the informal with them. Unlike in the U.S., business interactions in the Spanish speaking world are formal. The use of first name as a sign of friendliness in U.S. and Canadian business interactions is often seen as a sign of disrespect in the Spanish speaking world.

Third Person

The third person always agrees in gender and number. Like nosotros/as, the masculine plural ellos is used with groups that include a male, while ellas is used with groups made up of entirely females.

Ejemplos

• Él es mi amigo. (He is my friend.)
• Ella es mi amiga. (She is my friend.)
• Ellos son mis amigos. (They (at least one male) are my friends.)
• Ellas son mis amigas. (They (all female) are my friends.)