A1 level

Tu vs vous: choosing how to address someone in French

Last updated 28 October 2026

English has one word for "you". French has two, and the choice tells the other person something about how you see them. Tu is the informal singular. Vous is used for several people and also as the polite form for one person. Getting it wrong is rarely a disaster, but getting it right makes a good first impression.

The basic rule

Use vous when you speak to more than one person, whoever they are. For a single person, choose between the two:

Use tu with	Use vous with
Friends, family and partners	Strangers and people you have just met
Children and teenagers	Older people you do not know well
Classmates and people of your own age	Shop staff, waiters, officials, doctors
Colleagues in a relaxed workplace	A boss or client, unless they say otherwise

Both forms take a different verb ending. This is the part that trips people up, because vous always takes the plural verb even when it means one person.

Tu parles anglais ? Do you speak English? (informal)
Vous parlez anglais ? Do you speak English? (polite, or several people)
Comment tu t'appelles ? What is your name? (informal)
Comment vous appelez-vous ? What is your name? (polite)
Tu as faim ? Are you hungry? (informal)
Vous avez faim ? Are you hungry? (polite, or several people)

It also changes the other words

Everything that refers back to the person changes with the pronoun: the possessive, the object pronoun and the reflexive pronoun.

Informal (tu)	Polite or plural (vous)
ton, ta, tes	votre, vos
te, t', toi	vous
Tu te lèves tôt.	Vous vous levez tôt.
Je te présente ma sœur.	Je vous présente ma sœur.

An adjective stays singular when vous is polite and one person is meant: Vous êtes content, monsieur ? But it takes the plural for a group: Vous êtes contents, les enfants ?

Switching from vous to tu

In France the move from vous to tu is a small social event. Usually the older or more senior person proposes it, with a phrase like On peut se tutoyer ? (Can we use tu?). The verbs have their own names: vouvoyer is to use vous with someone, and tutoyer is to use tu.

On peut se tutoyer ? Shall we use tu with each other?
Tu peux me tutoyer. You can use tu with me.
Je vous vouvoie par politesse. I am using vous out of politeness.
On se dit tu ? Shall we say tu to each other?

How it varies

Young people and the internet. People under about 30 often use tu straight away, in bars, at university and on social media. Brands that want to sound friendly use it too.
Family. Some traditional families use vous for grandparents or in-laws. Most use tu.
Quebec. Canadian French uses tu more freely than France does, including in many shops and offices.
Work. Some French workplaces use tu between all colleagues, including the boss. Others stay with vous for years. Listen to what people around you do.

When you are unsure

Start with vous. People are rarely offended by politeness, and an invitation to use tu is easy to accept. If you start with tu by mistake, the same person may look surprised or correct you. As a learner, you also have an excuse: most people will forgive the mistake and appreciate the effort.

Common mistakes

Using vous with a singular verb: Vous parle anglais is wrong. Say Vous parlez anglais.
Mixing the two in one sentence: Tu peux me dire où est votre sac ? mixes tu and votre. Pick one.
Using tu with a shop assistant or official on a first visit. It sounds either rude or over-familiar.