- Learn the 8 basic Spanish subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, nosotros, nosotras, ellos, ellas)
- Understand what each pronoun means: I, you, he, she, we, they
- Learn the formal "you" - usted (singular) and ustedes (plural)
- Practice choosing the right pronoun for different people and situations
- Recognise gender differences in group pronouns (nosotros/nosotras, ellos/ellas)
- Build confidence using pronouns in basic present tense sentences
What You'll Learn
Overview
Subject pronouns are the building blocks of Spanish conversation - they tell us who is doing the action! Think of them as the "actors" in your Spanish sentences. Understanding these pronouns is crucial because they determine how verbs are conjugated and help you express yourself clearly.
Why This Matters
Subject pronouns are like name tags in a conversation - they tell everyone who you're talking about. Get these right, and your Spanish will sound natural and clear. Get them wrong, and you might end up talking about yourself when you meant to talk about someone else!
What You'll Master
- All subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, usted, nosotros, vosotros, ellos, ellas, ustedes)
- Formal vs informal (tú vs usted)
- Regional differences (Spain vs Latin America)
- When to use each one in real conversations
- Common mistakes to avoid
Structure & Formation
Step 1: Meet Your Spanish Subject Pronouns
Here are all the subject pronouns you need to know, organised by grammatical person:
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person the speaker | yo I | nosotros / nosotras we (masc/mixed) / we (fem) |
| 2nd Person the listener | tú you (informal) usted you (formal) | vosotros / vosotras you all (Spain, informal) ustedes you all (formal / Latin America) |
| 3rd Person someone else | él he ella she | ellos they (masc/mixed) ellas they (fem) |
See How They Work with Verbs
Each pronoun has its own verb ending. Example with hablar (to speak):
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo hablo I speak | nosotros/as hablamos we speak |
tú hablas you speak (informal) | vosotros/as habláis you all speak (Spain) |
él/ella/usted habla he/she speaks, you speak (formal) | ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan they speak, you all speak |
Want to learn more about verb conjugations? See our guide on regular verbs in the present tense.
Step 2: The Tú vs Usted Decision
Use TÚ (Informal)
- Friends and family
- Children and teenagers
- People your age
- Casual situations
Use USTED (Formal)
- Elders and authority figures
- People you don't know well
- Professional situations
- To show respect
Regional Differences: Spain vs Latin America
Spain
Vosotros/vosotras for "you all" (informal)
Ustedes for "you all" (formal)
¿Vosotros vais al parque?
Latin America
Ustedes for "you all" (both formal and informal)
Vosotros is rarely used
¿Ustedes van al parque?
Step 4: Gender Rules for Groups
Mixed Gender Groups (use masculine forms)
- Nosotros: Group includes at least one male
- Ellos: Group includes at least one male
- Vosotros: Group includes at least one male (Spain)
Example: "Nosotros vamos" (female speaker + her brother)
All-Female Groups (use feminine forms)
- Nosotras: ONLY when everyone is female
- Ellas: ONLY when everyone is female
- Vosotras: ONLY when everyone is female (Spain)
Example: "Nosotras vamos" (female speaker + her sisters)
Memory Trick
Simple rule: If there's even one male in the group, use the masculine form.
Only use feminine forms when the group is 100% female.
Examples
Singular Pronouns
yo
Yo hablo español.
I speak Spanish.
yo
Yo soy estudiante.
I am a student.
tú
¿Tú hablas inglés?
Do you speak English?
tú
Tú eres muy amable.
You are very kind.
él
Él trabaja en Madrid.
He works in Madrid.
ella
Ella estudia medicina.
She studies medicine.
usted
¿Usted habla español?
Do you speak Spanish? (formal)
Plural Pronouns
nosotros
Nosotros vamos al cine.
We go to the cinema.
nosotras
Nosotras estudiamos juntas.
We (females) study together.
vosotros
¿Vosotros venís mañana?
Are you all coming tomorrow? (Spain)
ellos
Ellos viven en Barcelona.
They (males/mixed) live in Barcelona.
ellas
Ellas son doctoras.
They (females) are doctors.
ustedes
¿Ustedes hablan español?
Do you all speak Spanish?
Formal vs Informal
informal (friends)
¿Tú quieres café?
Do you want coffee?
formal (elder)
¿Usted quiere café?
Do you want coffee? (formal)
group (lat. am.)
¿Ustedes quieren café?
Do you all want coffee?
group (spain)
¿Vosotros queréis café?
Do you all want coffee?
Sample Conversation
María: ¿Vosotros vais al restaurante?
Carlos: Sí, nosotros vamos. ¿Y tú?
Ana: Yo también voy.
María: ¡Perfecto! Nosotras vamos juntas.
Common Mistakes
"I Keep Using Tú with Everyone!"
The Problem: Using informal tú in formal situations
✗ ¿Tú habla español? (to your boss)
✓ ¿Usted habla español? (to your boss)
Fix: When in doubt, use usted. It's better to be too formal than too casual!
"I Don't Know When to Use Vosotros!"
The Problem: Confusion about vosotros vs ustedes
✗ ¿Vosotros van al parque? (in Mexico)
✓ ¿Ustedes van al parque? (in Mexico)
Fix: Use ustedes everywhere except Spain, where vosotros is common for informal groups.
"What About Mixed Gender Groups?"
The Problem: Using feminine forms for mixed groups
✗ Nosotras vamos (me + my brother)
✓ Nosotros vamos (me + my brother)
Fix: One male = masculine form. All females = feminine form.
"I Keep Forgetting the Gender Rules!"
The Problem: Not knowing when to use nosotros vs nosotras
✗ Ellas van (group with one male)
✓ Ellos van (group with one male)
Fix: Think: "Is there a guy in this group?" If yes, use masculine form.
Pro Success Strategies
Start with the Basics
Master yo, tú, él, ella first. These four cover most of your needs!
Know Your Region
If you're learning for Spain, practice vosotros. For Latin America, focus on ustedes.
Practice with Groups
Think about real people: "My family (nosotros), my female friends (nosotras)."
Use Context Clues
Listen for verb endings - they often tell you which pronoun is being used.
Read Spanish Texts
Notice how native speakers use pronouns in real conversations and stories.
Practice Out Loud
Say sentences with different pronouns to get comfortable with the sounds.
Remember This
Subject pronouns are like the cast of characters in your Spanish conversations. Think of them as name tags that tell everyone who's doing what. Master these, and you'll be able to talk about yourself, others, and groups with confidence!
Quick Test
Test your knowledge of Spanish subject pronouns and when to use them!
1. Which subject pronoun means 'I' in Spanish?
2. What does 'nosotros' mean?
3. Which pronoun would you use for 'you all' when talking to friends in Spain?
4. When do you use 'usted' instead of 'tú'?
5. What's the difference between 'ellos' and 'ellas'?
6. Three sisters talking about themselves would use which pronoun?
7. In Mexico, how would you address a group of friends (you all)?
8. Which pronoun uses the same verb form as 'él' and 'ella'?