How to use the Britney Spears-Person in Spanish Verbs

Vosotros is an odd little word, isn’t it?

For the longest time, I and other students in high school and college classes were convinced that it had no equal in English, and so was difficult to learn (kind of like that little subjunctive form, but let’s not go there). It’s in regular use in Spain, but pretty much no where else in the world, except maybe old movies and books. But we still have to learn it, understand it, and perhaps even be forced to use it now and then...

We know that vosotros and vosotras is both a word in itself, but also a person in Spanish.

By person, we mean, 1st person, 2nd person, etc. So, let's review both of these.

As a stand alone word, vosotros means, basically, "you all" …or, to make it even more memorable, it means gum-smacking, hair-twirling, beer-swilling Britney Spears vocabulary crutch: "ya'll." When referring to a mixed or all male group, we of course have vosotros, and in the rare case (outside the nunnery anyway) for an all female group, vosotras.

For example, let's say I am speaking to my girlfriends, mis amigas, who ask me who my best friends are.

Of course, my reply, if I'm smart, is going to be ya'll- vosotras.

However, you will more often run into vosotros and vosotras as a person in conjugated verbs. Let's review our trusty verb charts:

In Spanish, when we have a verb, we have to change it (conjugate it, in fancy talk) to fit the Who, or the Person, that we are talking about.

*Now, make sure you notice the "uds." (ustedes) on the third person plural.

As students of Spanish we know that "uds" is a respectful term (not "ya'll" but more formal) for a group of people. This respectful term for a group of people comes into play below.

So, when we conjugate the verb Amar (to Love):

Pretty simple, but always worth another look, right?

However, let's return to Britney for a sec' (settle down boys).

Here is where this little word gets some qualifications. Now, we would hope Britney wouldn't venture into a record executive boardroom, and start spewing off "ya'll", right? Well, given her track record... But let's just pretend. In the same way, you wouldn't go to Spain and start using vosotros with people that you should respect.

So, if Britney wants to state the phrase "Ya'll love my music" to a respect-worthy group of people, she wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) use ya'll, but instead would use a more formal word.

So should you: In Spain, vosotros is a familiar term, made for use with friends, family, compadres and children. If you address people who you should show respect to, you should use ustedes (uds.) and the ustedes verb form, third person plural.

So Britney wouldn't say to the record execs "Ya'll love my music" or "Amais mi musica," but hopefully, instead, would use "Aman mi musica." You all (respectful) love my music.

Of course, their reaction is outside of the scope of this article, right ya'll?

Sidenote: What do you do outside of Spain when you need to refer to “ya’ll”, as in the familiar, vosotros form? Using vosotros outside of Spain and a few select areas of Argentina is likely to get some weird looks. I recently stumbled in Guadalajara addressing two teenage primos (cousins). Even though the familiar form is the right form for this, I had to address them as ustedes, a very formal, respectful address to teenagers. That's ok, they know who's boss! :)