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Colombia's Special Word for "You"

nytimes.com

1–10 of 36 posts

Re: Colombia's Special Word for "You"

#2
Not all of Colombia uses that word - it's more of a thing of an specific region. My parents were born there, but as they were brought to Bogotá in an early age, they barely use it. Though I use it more than them as I feel it conveys more sincerity than the "official" ones (tú, usted).

Weirdly enough, some colombians seem to despise this word or look down on us who use it.

Re: Colombia's Special Word for "You"

#3

Not all of Colombia uses that word - it's more of a thing of an specific region. My parents were born there, but as they were brought to Bogotá in an early age, they barely use it. Though I use it more than them as I feel it conveys more sincerity than the "official" ones (tú, usted). Weirdly enough, some colombians seem to despise this word or look down on us who use it.

I'm not surprised: in the U.S., regional dialects or accents are often the subject of mockery or disdain.

Re: Colombia's Special Word for "You"

#5

Not all of Colombia uses that word - it's more of a thing of an specific region. My parents were born there, but as they were brought to Bogotá in an early age, they barely use it. Though I use it more than them as I feel it conveys more sincerity than the "official" ones (tú, usted). Weirdly enough, some colombians seem to despise this word or look down on us who use it.

Which region is it?

Re: Colombia's Special Word for "You"

#7
post #5

Not all of Colombia uses that word - it's more of a thing of an specific region. My parents were born there, but as they were brought to Bogotá in an early age, they barely use it. Though I use it more than them as I feel it conveys more sincerity than the "official" ones (tú, usted). Weirdly enough, some colombians seem to despise this word or look down on us who use it.

Which region is it?

Cundinamarca → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cundinamarca_Department

The Spanish page has more information → https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cundinamarca

Re: Colombia's Special Word for "You"

#8
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which region is it?

Cundinamarca → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cundinamarca_Department The Spanish page has more information → https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cundinamarca

I wish wikipedia had indicators for when a different language's article had more content. Not surprising for a geographic topic, but it happens for others. (Something I don't readily think about being anglo).

Re: Colombia's Special Word for "You"

#10
So I'll add another fading oddity from my own hometown in the south of Spain. We use ustedes (short of very archaic "vuestras mercedes" BTW) instead of vosotros.

That would seem not so odd, being ustedes the plural form of formal "you" usted, if not because ustedes should match "they" in verbal forms, while in fact it match plural "you". So no "ustedes saben" but "ustedes sabéis".

Even usted/ustedes is fading away, TV is so powerful. But I still hear that when back there for holidays.

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