A question of language - formal or informal?

[goinggetstough]

So, this is a bit of an academic point, and I don't want to lose sight of my, um, goals, but I was wondering if any of you Spanish speakers could help me out. *In speaking to chicas (or anyone else, for that matter), is it cusomary to use the informal*"tú" or the formal "usted" form. I leaned Spanish in Spain, and the informal is used pretty universally other than for a well respected older person in a formal setting or when dealing with official matters. I know that latin american spanish is more formal, but I don't know if that extends to chicas or folks you meet on the street.

I don't want to be too formal (and using tu with a chica just seems to make sense) but I also don't want to offend anyone. I love to get into the culture of places I visit, and I try my best to be as informed as possible.

While we're at it, in Spain, "chulo" is a slang way of saying "cool" or "badass". It also means a pimp, but do people say "Que chulo" in the DR?

Thanks all

[weyland]

... do people say "Qué chulo" in the DR?

Absolutely. It is a term of approval. I have often heard it used when admiring other people's babies, for example. Also used in the feminine. When I walked with Renata through her barrio the neighbours would all greet her with "Hola, chula!"

I know that Latin American Spanish is more formal, but I don't know if that extends to chicas or folks you meet on the street.

In educated LA countries that is true and perhaps with upper-class Dominicans, but anyone we are likely to meet on holiday won't be offended by "tu". They don't have high expectations of gringos' good manners.

Only exceptions might be if introduced to grandparents or if in a dispute with someone, in which case the use of "tu" might be provocative.

[Gladiator]

With putas, semiputas or amateurs always use 'tu'.

'Usted', as you said, is a formal 'tu' reserved only for formal situations.

Note that the verbs you use will also change depending on whether you use 'tu' or 'usted'.

[goinggetstough]

Sounds about right. Although, in my experience, if you are arguing and you switch to Usted after you've been speaking with the tu, its a bit of a cultured Fuck You. That's true for close friends, at least. I once did that to a Spanish woman I was dating and she nearly blew her lid.

Only exceptions might be if introduced to grandparents or if in a dispute with someone, in which case the use of "tu" might be provocative.

[DCIronman]

I'd actually say that latin american spanish is a little less formal than the Spanish you learned in Spain, and that which I learned in high school. For example, I learned the vosotros verb tense in high school. But I was told by my dominican spanish teacher that the vosotros verb tense is considered archaic now.

You'd be okay using tu for most purposes, and only using usted when formality calls for it.

[Gladiator]

I'd actually say that latin american spanish is a little less formal than the Spanish you learned in Spain, and that which I learned in high school. For example, I learned the vosotros verb tense in high school. But I was told by my dominican spanish teacher that the vosotros verb tense is considered archaic now.

You'd be okay using tu for most purposes, and only using usted when formality calls for it.

That's correct, in most LA countries they use 'ustedes' instead of 'vosotros/vosotras' even in informal situations.

[Dick Dawson]

I think I recall one of my Spanish teachers in school said that vosotros was only used regularly in Argentina.

[Maretti]

So, this is a bit of an academic point, and I don't want to lose sight of my, um, goals, but I was wondering if any of you Spanish speakers could help me out. *In speaking to chicas (or anyone else, for that matter), is it cusomary to use the informal*"tú" or the formal "usted" form. I leaned Spanish in Spain, and the informal is used pretty universally other than for a well respected older person in a formal setting or when dealing with official matters. I know that latin american spanish is more formal, but I don't know if that extends to chicas or folks you meet on the street.

I don't want to be too formal (and using tu with a chica just seems to make sense) but I also don't want to offend anyone. I love to get into the culture of places I visit, and I try my best to be as informed as possible.

While we're at it, in Spain, "chulo" is a slang way of saying "cool" or "badass". It also means a pimp, but do people say "Que chulo" in the DR?

Thanks all

IMHO, the way you speak is a representation of who you are, not who you're speaking with. Personally I wouldn't lower myself to fit in with an uneducated person. What are they going to do, laugh at me because I speak correctly? But don't need to use big words, that would be a waste of resources.

As for the slangs, it's good to know their meaning but do you really need slangs to communicate in Spanish? Even when, according to the situation you can use "chulo" (remember, in this situation, you're refering to a male) to say for example, cute, why not to say "bonito or lindo"? The most acceptable definition of chulo in Spanish is "pimp". Use it in that context and you won't have any problem.