Formal and informal register
How to write formal letters and emails with usted, and how colloquial Spanish, euphemisms and register shifts work.
The formal letter/email: structure and formulas
A formal Spanish email begins with a greeting followed by a colon (not a comma as in English/Dutch): Estimado/a Sr./Sra. [surname]:
Typical formulas:
- Opening: Le escribo para... ('I am writing to...'), Me pongo en contacto con usted para... ('I am contacting you to...')
- Requests: Le agradecería que + subjunctive... ('I would appreciate it if...')
- Closing: Quedo a la espera de su respuesta. ('I look forward to your reply.'), Atentamente, ('Sincerely,'), Un cordial saludo, ('Kind regards,')
Examples
Using usted: forms and pronouns
Usted takes third-person singular conjugation (the same form as él/ella), but refers to 'you' (formal). Possessive: su/sus. Direct object: lo/la. The formal imperative uses the subjunctive form.
| tú | usted | |
|---|---|---|
| Presente | hablas | habla |
| Bezittelijk/Possessive | tu/tus | su/sus |
| Lijdend voorwerp/Direct object | te | lo/la |
| Gebiedende wijs/Imperative | habla / no hables | hable / no hable |
Examples
Colloquial Spanish: vocabulary and expressions
In informal, spoken contexts (especially in Spain) you use very different words than in a formal letter:
- vale = OK, agreed
- tío/tía = dude, mate (informal way to address friends)
- molar = to be cool/great ('me mola')
- guay = cool, great
- currar = to work
- flipar = to be amazed
These words are typical of Peninsular Spanish and don't belong in formal written text.
Examples
Euphemisms: softening what you say
A euphemism replaces a direct or unpleasant word with a softer formulation. This is typical of formal and polite language:
- fallecer instead of morir (to pass away instead of to die)
- persona con recursos económicos limitados instead of pobre (person with limited financial means instead of poor)
- prescindir de sus servicios instead of despedir (to let go instead of to fire)
Polite formulas like me temo que... ('I'm afraid that...') or the conditional for requests also belong to this register.
Examples
Shifting registers: same message, different tone
A good C1 speaker can adapt the same message to the situation. Compare the formal and informal version of the same action:
| Situatie/Situation | Formeel/Formal | Informeel/Informal |
|---|---|---|
| Iets vragen/Asking for something | ¿Podría usted pasarme la sal? | Pásame la sal, porfa. |
| Groeten/Greeting | Buenos días, ¿qué tal está? | ¡Qué pasa, tío! |
| Afscheid nemen/Saying goodbye | Ha sido un placer. Que tenga un buen día. | ¡Nos vemos, chao! |
Examples
💡 Tips
🎯 Practise this topic with 10 interactive exercises (10)
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