tutear

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address informally, use tú with
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/tuteˈaɾ/
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To speak to someone through a familiar form of address that reduces social distance.
Practice using tutear in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • El médico prefirió que lo tutearan.
    The doctor preferred to be addressed informally.
  • Aunque era joven, nadie se atrevía a tutearlo sin permiso.
    Although he was young, nobody dared address him informally without permission.
  • En la oficina todos tutean a la directora.
    At the office everyone addresses the director informally.
  • Nos tuteamos desde la primera reunión.
    We have used familiar forms with each other since the first meeting.
  • ¿Te importa si te tuteo?
    Do you mind if I use tú with you?

Similar words

tratar de tú
dar el tú
hablar de tú

Meanings

Address someone informally

verb
social
neutral
To address someone with the familiar second-person form rather than the formal usted, usually showing closeness or an accepted lack of distance.

Examples

  • En la oficina todos tutean a la directora.
    At the office everyone addresses the director informally.
  • ¿Te importa si te tuteo?
    Do you mind if I use tú with you?
  • Nos tuteamos desde la primera reunión.
    We have used familiar forms with each other since the first meeting.
  • El médico prefirió que lo tutearan.
    The doctor preferred to be addressed informally.
  • Aunque era joven, nadie se atrevía a tutearlo sin permiso.
    Although he was young, nobody dared address him informally without permission.

Similar words

tratar de tú
hablar de tú
dar el tú

Etymology

From Spanish tú, influenced in its formation by French tutoyer, which has the same meaning.

FAQ

What does tutear mean?

Tutear means addressing someone with the familiar tú form rather than formal usted.

Is tutear rude?

Tutear is not inherently rude, but doing it where usted is expected can sound overly familiar or disrespectful.

Can tutear be reciprocal?

Yes. Tutearse means that two or more people use familiar forms with one another.

What is the opposite of tutear?

The usual opposite is tratar de usted or ustedear, meaning to use formal address.

How is tutear conjugated?

It is regular: tuteo in the first-person present, tuteé in the preterite, and tuteado as the past participle.

Does tutear always mean saying the pronoun tú?

Not necessarily. Tutear describes the familiar pattern of address, even when the subject pronoun itself is omitted.

Where does tutear come from?

Tutear is built from Spanish tú, with its formation influenced by French tutoyer.

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