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Two ways to say “you”
English has one you. French has two, and choosing between them is a small social decision you'll make every day:
| tu | vous | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | a friend, family, a child, a pet | someone you don't know, an older person, staff in a shop or café |
| How many | always one person | one person (politely) or any group |
| “And you?” | Et toi ? | Et vous ? |
| “How are you?” | Ça va ? | Comment allez-vous ? |
A safe rule: start with vous with any adult you don't know. Among young people and friends, tu comes quickly. Someone may invite you to switch: On peut se tutoyer ? — Shall we say tu?