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Leçon 2 – Formal/Informal (Vous/Tu)

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Vocab. used in this lesson

French
Pronunciation
English
Aujourd’hui
Oh zhoor dwee
Today
Mademoiselle
Mahd mwa zell
Miss
Monsieur
Missyuh
Mr./Sir
Madame
Mah dahm
Mrs./Ma’am



Grammaire

In most languages (other than English, of course), there is a formal way and an informal way to address people.  For instance, when speaking to a boss, teacher, doctor, stranger, or even another adult whom you don’t know very well, you would use the formal version of “you.”  If you were addressing a friend, relative, child, pet or someone with whom you have already established this type of relationship, you would likely use the informal version of “you.”

In French, there is a definite distinction between the two.  When speaking formally, we use the word “vous” (voo); informally, we use the “tu” (tew) form. 

Par exemple:

Formal:  Bonjour, Mademoiselle Rigaud.  Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui?
            (Trans:  Hello, Miss Rigaud.  How are you today?)

Informal:  Salut, Henri!  Comment vas-tu aujourd’hui?
            (Trans:  Hi, Henry!  How are you today?)

In both sentences, we are asking the same thing.  However, in the first example, we are speaking formally.  In the second, we are informal.

There is one other nuance to politely addressing others in French.  When you are speaking to a group of people (what we will refer to from this point as “you plural” or “y’all”), use the “vous” form.  Even if you’re speaking to a group of close peers, you will still use this form. 

Par exemple:

Informal (singular):  Bonjour, Juliette!  Comment vas-tu aujourd’hui?
            (Trans:  Hello, Juliette!  How are you today?)

Y’all (informal):  Salut, mes amis!  Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui?
            (Trans:  Hi, my friends!  How are you (all) today?)

Formal (singular):  Bonjour, Monsieur Richard.  Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui?
            (Trans:  Hello, Mr. Richard.  How are you today?)

Y’all (formal):  Bonjour, Monsieur et Madame Richard.  Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui?
            (Trans:  Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Richard.  How are you (both) today?)

Using the same “hello/hi, how are you?” format used in the above examples, address the following people:

  1. Monsieur Monet, your art teacher
  2. Pépin, your French poodle
  3. Papa, your father
  4. Madame Renard, your boss
  5. Gérard Depardieu, a stranger
  6. Marie Antoinette, your best friend
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