When to use informal Spanish
Knowing when and where to use the informal Spanish is subtle. For example, our best friends in Mexico are David and Teresa… my wife talks to Teresa in informal Spanish, but she address Teresa’s husband David in formal Spanish.
Reason: She doesn’t want to be so presumptuous as to speak casually to
the husband of una amiga.
Yet, with our other friends Millie and Juan José, Elena speaks casually to them both.
Reason: Juan José is about 10 years younger than David and closer to Elena’s age. As he’s closer to Elena’s age, (Actually, he’s about 5 years younger than Elena, but don’t tell her I told you) she feels OK speaking to the husband of una amiga informally.
There’s no hard and fast rule as to where and when to use informal Spanish. It will vary from family to family, region to region and from situation to situation.
Teresa is a cleaner; she came from a very poor family in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. She started work at 9 years old picking vegetables in the fields. Millie’s husband is from a wealthy family, he trained as a doctor and then did years of specialty training in Cuba in sports medicine.
Yet, Millie and Juan José are the more casual couple; Teresa and David are the more polite and respectful. Income or social status is no indication of how people will speak.
Here are the rules I use…
I speak to children informally
I speak to people my age or younger informally if it’s a social situation
I speak to older people formally.
Everyone else, I listen to how they speak to me. If they speak to me informally, I do the same. If they speak to me formally, I also do the same unless they are very young.
I have made some free informal Spanish audio lessons available…
They are an add-on to Synergy Spanish, however as long as you know the basics of Spanish you’ll be able to start practicing using the informal form.
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I am a landlord and I have hispanic tenants. When I speak to them, I speak informally but not sure if this is correct. I am older than they are and “la duena de la casa” so perhaps I should address them formally. What would you suggest?
Hello I have bought your program and it has certainly help tremendously. I was wondering if you would have something like this for other tenses and direct and in direct pronouns? I like your patient way of teaching, I’ve seen on other but it more memorization the teaching.
Thanks,
Michael
I was recently told by a friend who had lived and travelled in Mexico that the formal “usted” is not really appreciated because people are a bit offended by the non-friendliness of the term. The Mexican people seem to prefer a more casual conversation even during initial meetings. Can you comment on this?
Bill
Hola Marcus,
When is the Bola de Nueve going to be available. Please let me know asap…I would like to order it. Please guide me as well on how to order it. – I love your spanish course. Good luck in doing more.
Gracias,
Ria
hola marcus
I did not know one word of spanish untill I read your synergy spanish lessons
1 and 2. To me thay are brillant.
Can”t wait till next ones come out, Please let me Know soon as thay do.
keep up good work, I think you are helping alot of people.
Best of luck mate.
Gracias,
Paul from England
Marcus this is really useful, I live in Spain and would follow your example very closely. Good to know I’m on the right track!
As always, thank you for being such a good ‘connection’ to the heart and soul of the Spanish language, making us feel a part of it, even if we are only just starting out on the journey.
Best wishes
Jennifer
I’m a trusting old soul as far as your lesson’s go!!! ANYTHING you have to improve my Spanish I’m FOR!! So put me down for anything you have to offer!!!
Steve Ayala
Marcus’
Just a note to let you know that Bola de Nieve is fantastic. Can’t wait for the next module. Can you tell us how many modules you have planned? At what rate do you plan to release them?
Thanks again for another great program.
hola marcus,
thank u so much , i had learn basic spanish word through
your synergy spanish lessons. thanks for the giudelines.
Best Wishes and more power.
gracias,
margelin from singapore