French · A1 · Speaking · about 8 min
Use tu with a familiar person, vous for a polite first approach or a group. Practise the whole phrase, including the verb.
Anya meets a classmate and then orders at a café. With the classmate she knows, ‘Tu veux un café ?’ feels natural. To the server she has just met, ‘Vous avez du thé ?’ is a safe polite opening. Vous also addresses more than one person, even close friends. The form depends on the relationship and number of people, not simply on the age of the speaker.
WhenOne familiar person
Say thisTu veux un café ?
Notetu + veux
WhenOne unfamiliar person
Say thisVous avez du thé ?
Notevous + avez
WhenTwo or more people
Say thisVous êtes prêts ?
Notevous is plural too
WhenAsk a familiar name
Say thisComment tu t'appelles ?
Notetu + t'appelles
WhenAsk a stranger's name
Say thisComment vous appelez-vous ?
Notevous + appelez
| When | Say this | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One familiar person | Tu veux un café ? | tu + veux |
| One unfamiliar person | Vous avez du thé ? | vous + avez |
| Two or more people | Vous êtes prêts ? | vous is plural too |
| Ask a familiar name | Comment tu t'appelles ? | tu + t'appelles |
| Ask a stranger's name | Comment vous appelez-vous ? | vous + appelez |
The pronoun changes the verb: tu veux / vous voulez, tu es / vous êtes, tu t'appelles / vous vous appelez. Do not mix one pronoun with the other's verb form. Social usage varies by person and setting; when someone invites you to use tu, you can switch. If you are unsure with a stranger, vous is a respectful starting point, then follow their lead.
Walk through the café scene. Anya first asks her friend ‘Tu veux un café ?’ because she is speaking to one person she knows. At the counter she asks the server ‘Vous avez du thé ?’ because this is a first, polite exchange. Back at the table she turns to two friends and asks ‘Vous êtes prêts ?’ Here vous means plural, not social distance. The same pronoun has two jobs; the situation tells you which one it is doing.
Do not change only the pronoun: ‘vous veux’ or ‘tu voulez’ mixes forms. Keep each pair together: tu veux, vous voulez. Do not assume that every stranger will always use vous with you, either. A French speaker may invite you to switch to tu, especially among peers; follow the form they invite. When addressing a group, keep vous even after you become close friends. Before a drill, ask: one person or several, and familiar or first contact?
Use tu with a familiar person, vous for a polite first approach or a group. Practise the whole phrase, including the verb.
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You ask a classmate you know whether she wants coffee.
Tu veux un café ?
Tu plus veux addresses one familiar person.
Anya asks her classmate after class.
Vous avez du thé ?
Vous plus avez makes a polite first approach to the server.
She is ordering at an unfamiliar café.
Vous êtes prêts ?
Vous also addresses a group; prêts assumes a mixed or masculine group.
Anya asks two friends whether they are ready to leave.
Comment vous appelez-vous ?
A polite way to ask one unfamiliar adult's name.
A first meeting at a workshop.