|
|
 |
 1c. ¿Cómo y por qué?
En esta página: • ¿Tú o usted? • Género • Títulos • Nombres • Diminutivos • Más práctica
¿Tú o usted? — Saying "You"
In Spanish, there are four ways of saying "you". Each form has a special use. In Sam's conversation with her host family, she uses two forms: tú and usted.
tú — When Sam talks to Carmencita, she uses tú, the singular informal/familiar. This form is used to address a person of your own age, a friend, or someone who is younger than you.
usted — When Sam talks to her host mother, la señora María de los Dolores Muñoz y Villavicencio de Fernández, she uses usted, the singular formal/polite. This form is used to address an older person, a client, or simply to show respect for someone.
Género — Gender
| • If you are a male responding to an introduction, say encantado. |
| • If you are a female responding to an introduction, say encantada. |
|
Títulos — Titles
The titles in Spanish for "Mr.," "Mrs.," and "Miss" are Sr., Sra., and Srta. respectively. They are abbreviated in front of a name, usually the last name. Notice that in Spanish there is no title for "Ms."
Examples:
Sr. Fernández
Sra. de Fernández
Srta. Fernández Muñoz
| Sr. is the abbreviation for señor. |
| Sra. is the abbreviation for señora. |
| Srta. is the abbreviation for señorita. |
|
When the word is not abbreviated, it is written with a lower case s. Only the abbreviation is capitalized.
You can also use these words (in their full form, not as abbreviations) to mean "Sir," "Madam" or "Ma'am," and "Miss."
Yes, sir.
Sí, señor.
Glad to meet you, madam.
Encantada, señora.
Pleased to meet you, miss.
Mucho gusto, señorita.
Nombres — Names
In Spanish-speaking countries, names are longer than names in the United States because Spanish speakers often use two last names instead of one.
In our Spanish host family, the mother's married name is María de los Dolores Muñoz y Villavicencio de Fernández.
| • The mother's first name is María. |
| • Her middle name is de los Dolores. |
| • Her first last name is Muñoz (this is María's father's first last name). |
| • Her second last name is Villavicencio (this is María's mother's first last name). |
|
de Fernández means "of Fernández." At marriage, a woman adds her husband's first last name.
In Sam's host family, the father's name is José María Fernández García.
| • The father's first name is José. |
| • His middle name is María. |
| • His first last name is Fernández. |
| • His second last name is García. |
|
In Spain, it is very common for men to use the name María as a middle name.
Children inherit both the father's first last name and the mother's first last name. For example, in this family the son is Paco Fernández Muñoz.
| • The son's first name is Paco. |
| • Fernández is the father's first last name. |
| • Muñoz is the mother's first last name (maiden name). |
|
Diminutivos — Diminutives
In Spanish, diminutives are used to show affection and to refer to children. For example, Marcela's sister's real name is Carmen, but we refer to her as Carmencita. And a young boy named Paco might be referred to as Paquito.
Más práctica — More Practice
  
BACK | LINKS | NEXT
BEYOND BOOKS HOME |||
PROGRAMS |||
YOUR DESK |||
PORTFOLIOS |||
HELP
Copyright ©2007 Apex Learning Inc. All rights reserved. Patents D455,435 and D455,436.
Terms of Use | Privacy PolicyCall Toll Free 1-800-453-6227 • Fax 206-381-5601
|
;postcard.focus())
P.S. Tell Sra. Menéndez I said "hi" and that my español is getting better every day!