What does usted in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word usted in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use usted in Spanish.

The word usted in Spanish means you, you, as you know, as you know, with all due respect, after you, address as "usted", do-it-yourself, if you only knew, if you would like, address formally, you'll see, let me tell you, who knows?, and that should do. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word usted

you

pronombre (formal (sujeto de 2ª persona singular)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Usted está cordialmente invitado a la cena.
You are cordially invited to dinner.

you

pronombre (formal (objeto de 2ª persona singular)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
El señor Pérez quería hablarle a usted. El sobre que está sobre la mesa es para usted.
Mr Perez wanted to talk to you. The envelope on the table is for you.

as you know

expresión (le recuerdo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Como usted sabe, los alumnos de esta institución provienen de familias privilegiadas.
As you know, students of this institution come from privileged families.

as you know

locución conjuntiva (se da por sabido)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Como usted sabrá, Europa no es América.

with all due respect

expresión (formal (fórmula cortés)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Con el respeto que usted me merece, parece que ha ganado un poco de peso.

after you

expresión (formal (detrás de usted)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Después de usted, señora.
After you, madam.

address as "usted"

locución verbal (tratar con respeto)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
A la gente mayor hay que hablarle de usted.

do-it-yourself

expresión (tareas hogar)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

if you only knew

expresión (si conocieras el asunto)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Si tú supieras lo que pasó pensarías distinto.
If you only knew what happened you'd think differently.

if you would like

expresión (ofrecimiento de compartir alimentos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

address formally

locución verbal (ustedear: dirigirse usando usted)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
A algunas personas las sorprende que en Costa Rica los padres traten de usted a sus hijos.
Some people are surprised that in Costa Rica parents address their children formally.

you'll see, let me tell you

expresión (coloquial (permite decidir al otro)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

who knows?

expresión (quién sabe)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

and that should do

expresión (coloquial (suficiente información)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Compré leche, café, azúcar y pare usted de contar.

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of usted in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.