Understanding "Vosotros": The Spanish "Y'all" Used in Spain
By
Cindy Blanco, Ph.D.
Kettled twice. Extra chewy, extra trustworthy.
Summary
This article from Duolingo's "Dear Duolingo" advice column explains the Spanish pronoun "vosotros" — the informal second-person plural form used primarily in Spain (equivalent to "y'all"). It covers what vosotros is, how it conjugates, when to use it, and the historical and linguistic reasons why it's used in Spain but not in most Latin American countries. The article also addresses whether learners need to know vosotros, offering practical advice for different learning goals.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledAhh, vosotros—that's the form of 'y'all' used in Spain! What is it, why is it there, and do you need to know it?
When I studied Spanish in school in the U.S., one year we needed to know vosotros and the next we didn't, and it was confusing.
Here's how to use 'vosotros' and the story of how it ended up in one country only!
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