Catriona: Welcome back everyone to A Zero to A Hero! The podcast for Spanish beginners at Babbel!

Last week, Hector helped me get to grips with introducing myself in Spanish, so now I can say a little bit more than just “hola!” Before I panick and stop talking again. 

Héctor: Buenos días, buenas tardes, buenas noches, depending on the time you are listening to this podcast. My name is Héctor and welcome to the second episode of your favorite language learning podcast, A Zero to A Hero. Why don't you tell me, what have you been up to, Catriona?

Catriona: Well, I've been cornering some of my Spanish-speaking friends at various times of the day and bamboozling them by introducing myself on multiple occasions. Just go get in some practice. It might sound stupid, but I find it useful just to use the basic phrases I've got in real-life conversational situations. Most of them also knew “¿qué onda?”, so I felt quite good about myself and they were impressed I had something more colloquial on my sleeve!

Héctor: OK, so now we know that they actually understand “qué onda” in the Spanish speaking world. I’m glad to hear that you are practicing what we have learned.

Catriona: I have been and I think it would be great now if I could go one step further and have a little more of a conversation with people. So something more than just hello! Asking them how they are, also being able to answer that question if they ask it back. Sometimes I stop myself from going any further, since the differences in “you” in Spanish can be confusing, specially for english-native speaker, and I don’t want to offend anyone.

Héctor: So you don’t want your English to play tricks on you.

Catriona: Exactly, so maybe by the end of today’s episode… I’d be great if I could ask how they are to my friends, for example, but also maybe in more formal situations with people that I don't know as well. And I guess for that I need to brush up on my verbs “to be” - so “ser” and “estar”.

And also have look at some more words for feelings, maybe. So I can answer the questions better in El Tesauro. Just want to remind the listeners they can pause, rewind and play this podcast as many times as you want to.

Héctor: OK, so let’s make an A Hero out of you!

Héctor: ¿Cómo estás?

Catriona: “¿Cómo estás?”… Hey, Héctor, what does that mean?

Héctor: How are you?

Catriona: Ah! “¿Cómo estás?”. So this isn't the verb “ser”.

Héctor: No, that is the verb “estar”. The verb “ser” is normally used with permanent characteristics, such as your name, that’s why you say “yo soy Catriona” or “soy Catriona”. You can also use “ser” with professions for instance: “tú eres locutora”.

Catriona: What does this mean?

Héctor: That means you’re a broadcaster.

Catriona: Ah, “yo soy locutora”. 

Héctor: Yes.

Catriona: So I can use the verb “ser” with names for myself, “yo soy Catriona”, “tú eres Héctor” and professions: “yo soy locutora” y “tú eres…”

Héctor: Editor.

Catriona: Editor. 

Héctor: Editor. The stress is on the last syllable “editor”.

Catriona: Tú eres Héctor y eres editor.

Héctor: Very good! So going back to your question, “how are you?” elicits a mood. For example, I’m fine or I'm happy; or also a physical state, I’m tired for example. For these type of concepts you use the verb “estar”. “¿Cómo estás?”

Catriona: “¿Cómo estás?”… And here we are already conjugating the verb “estar”, correct? 

Héctor: That’s correct.

Catriona: So, we don't need to include “tú” in the question…

Héctor: Yes, “tú” is not necessary because it's already conjugated. 

Catriona: Perfect, when I was doing my lessons I learned that there are two words in Spanish for you, so “tú”, the informal version, and “usted”, the formal version. I think for people who don't speak the language well, specially for english-natives live myself is difficult to understand when to use one or the other. For example, I feel the “usted” formal version with people who are older than you, specifically with people who are not close to you, so maybe your boss at work. Maybe that would be a set up in which you'd defintely use “usted”, at least at the beginning until they were to suggest to change to something less formal.

Héctor: Yes, well you have basically described what happens. If people don't feel comfortable with the level of formality, they will let you know, like ‘That was too formal, you can use “tú” with me’. So it's better here to use the form “usted” and then allow the other person to tell you to use “tú”. So yes, both refer to the same person, that is the person who is addressed during a conversation. 

The difference lies in the degree of formality. As you already said, in English, you don’t use one specific word, the degree of formality is more related to the grammar structure, such as an indirect question.
You could ask easily, where is the nearst bank? but more formally could be: could you tell me where the nearest bank is? Or with the use of “could” instead of “can”. Or maybe giving indirect instructions, instead of just using imperatives.

Catriona: That's true, directness does kind of change the meaning in English. We’ve been asking each other “¿cómo estás?” And I think we, Héctor, are on friendly informal terms, so this would be the informal version. But, if I want to make this more formal?

Héctor: You ask: “¿cómo está usted?”

Catriona: ¿Cómo está usted?

Héctor: Yes, what changed?

Catriona: Well the verb ending, no longer “estás”, “está”, we are also including “usted”, so…

Héctor: Exactly, the conjugation changes and you add the pronoun this time.

Catriona: Why is it necessary that we have the pronoun?

Héctor: The formal “you” in Spanish, “usted”, takes the conjugation of the third person, in this case “el”, he in English and “ella”, she in English. If I’m not mistaken, this also works similarly in Italian: come sta Lei? 
I know that you speak Italian.

Catriona: Yes, true it does. 

Héctor: And here, in order to avoid ambiguities, it is best to add the pronoun “¿cómo está usted?”

Catriona:  “¿Cómo está usted?” And if I’m answering a question like that I can say: “estoy bien”, right?

Héctor: Yes, in that aspect Mexicans and Brits are not that different, we’re always “fine, thank you”.

Catriona: Very true and I assume the formal version is normally used with older people or older people than myself?

Héctor: Yes, there is the age factor, but also how familiar you are with the person. There might also be a geographical aspect to it. For example, in certain parts of Colombia, “usted” is used even with closer friends and family. In certain parts of Mexico, although this has become less and less common, people used it to refer to their parents.

Catriona: Cool I didn't know that with the cultural differences. That's always good to know. So I guess now I can talk to my friends informally, asking “¿cómo estás?” where I don’t need to include “tú” since that's already understood from the verb conjugation. If I want to be more formal, I should ask “cómo está usted?” where the “usted” is necessary to avoid extra confusion and good for practicing at the beginning… so might as well just pop-in.

and to all of that, I can answer, “estoy bien”, also using “estar”.

So, all of this with “estar”. If I'm using “ser” for more set, fixed characteristics such as my name,“yo soy Catriona”, or your profession, Héctor “Tú eres editor”.

What about the plurals? I know we have plural you, as well, “ustedes”, “vosotros”… When shall I use what, when?

Héctor: Both, “ustedes” and “vosotros” refer to a group of people that are being addressed, that is, again, “you”. “Ustedes” is gender-neutral, it can be used with a mixed group, as well as with a group of only women or only men. “Vosotros” is used with an only-man or a mixed group and “vosotras” with a group of women.

Catriona: Ah, OK. So we don’t have that distinction in English. We don't use a plural form for you. When you are referring to all it's just determined by the context. I guess in certain occassions, although is very colloquial and not strictly speaking gramatically correct, you could have  “y’all”, “youse” and “you guys”… that makes it more explicit, but a little bit different. 

Héctor: Yes. So, “vosotros” and “vosotras” is the European variation for “you” and “ustedes” is more common in Latin America but also in the south of Spain and the Canarian Islands as well.

Catriona: Interesting. So, how do I say it if I want to ask a group of people how they are?

Héctor: You ask: “¿cómo están?”

Catriona: “¿Cómo están?” And I guess that's using “ustedes”? 

Héctor: Correct!

Catriona: OK and I can also eliminate the pronoun here aswell. 

Héctor: Indeed.

Catriona: And what about “vosotros”?

Héctor: Yes, with vosotros you would ask: “¿cómo estáis?”

Catriona: “¿Cómo estáis?” OK, and a rather anti-democratic request, Héctor, but how do I answer for the whole group?

Héctor: Estamos bien, gracias.

Catriona: Estamos bien, gracias. OK.

So, the plural “you” in Spanish can take on different forms. We've got “ustedes” and “vosotros”, interchangeable argueably although one used more in European Spanish and the other more Latinamerica.  “Ustedes” being gender neutral form and “vosotros” always takes a gender so “vosotros” for a male-group and “vosotras” for a female group.

Héctor: I would like to clarify that this is totally intelligible among Spanish speakers. So you can easily use  “vosotros” with people from Latinamerica or “ustedes” with people from Europe and they will understand. 

Catriona: Perfect. So I have the option of asking  “¿cómo están?” or “estís”?

Héctor: ¿Cómo estáis?

Catriona: ¿Cómo estáis?

Héctor: Exactly. “Ai” as in bike.  “¿Cómo estáis?”

Catriona: ¿Cómo estáis?

Héctor: Very good.

Catriona: Héctor, what if I don't want to be British all the time and just say “estoy bien, gracias”? Such a wide range of emotions, maybe I can add to that. 

Héctor: Good, yeah. Shall we jump into El Tesauro?

Catriona: I think that would make sense.

Catriona: If you remember, El Tesauro is our section where we explore some new and more varied phrases, so I can extend my vocabulary, along with all of you. So it is true that in Britain we are always just fine and doing well, unless you're a deathstore and I would like to know some more ways of responding depending on how I’m actually feeling… So I mean, right now, it’s the end of the day now and I’m always a little bit sleepy after a day filled with meetings… So, how do I say, I am tired?

Héctor: Estoy cansada.

Catriona: “Estoy cansada”. OK, and I guess I'm saying “cansada” because I’m a girl, right? Gender, so for men “cansado”?

Héctor: Correcto. ¿Cómo estás, Catriona?

Catriona: “Estoy cansada”. Can I also say “estoy muy cansada”?

Héctor: Yes, especially after a long day.

Catriona: And what about the opposite to this, if I'm excited? I know that word can be a bit tricky in different languages.

Héctor: Yeah. Excited is a false friend in Spanish. False friends are words that look similar in two different languages but mean two different things. In this case, the false friend of “excited” is “excitado”, which has more of a sexual connotation.

Catriona: So I guess I shouldn’t go around saying “estoy excitada”, then…

Héctor: No, you can say “estoy emocionada”.

Catriona: “Estoy emocionada”, “estoy muy emocionada”… And how about the opposite? If I’m rather bored.

Héctor: Yes, exactly.

Catriona: Perfect, and what about the opposite, if I’m bored.

Héctor: You would say “estoy aburrida”.

Catriona: Estoy aburrida.

Héctor: Be careful not to use the wrong verb here. “Estoy aburrida” y “soy aburrida” are both grammatically correct but they mean two different things. “Estoy aburrida” is an emotion, boredom has overtaken you, you are affected by boredom.

Catriona: Oh, I see, so if I say “soy aburrida” it means that I’m really boring.

Héctor: Yes, which of course we all know you aren’t.

Catriona: Thank you. Something else that is definitely not boring is our quiz and I think I’m about ready for mine!

Héctor: Okay! So, let's get ready.

Good so, let's start with our quiz. The first question. “You” can be translated into Spanish in different ways, what are they?

Catriona: So many ways, Héctor. So we have two for singular in formal “usted” for formal singular,  “ustedes” for the more gender neutral plural; “vosotros” and “vosotras”.

Héctor: Exactly. Now. The second question. When do you use verb “ser”?

Catriona: “Ser, yo soy” Things like: “soy Catriona” for names for fixed characteristics. 

Héctor: Yes, yes more for fixed characteristics. Yes. 

What about the verb “estar”? When do you use it?

Catriona:  “Estar”, all the times I'm not using “ser”. Could apply to how I am. “Estoy bien, estoy aburrida”.

Héctor: Exactly but just momentarily.

Catriona: Just momentarily. 

Héctor: Okay and how do you ask “how are you” to an older person?

Catriona: So an older person, I'm probably gonna use the more formal version so I can ask “¿cómo está usted?”

Héctor: Very good.

What’s the difference between “ustedes” and “vosotros”?

Catriona: Ok. I do remember this, so “ustedes” is the gender neutral variation that's used more often in Latinamerica, although like you said from what I understand,  and “vosotros” is the plural form of you as well but takes the gender so “vosotros” or “vosotras”.

Héctor: Very good. What 3 words did you learn today to answer to the question “¿cómo estás?”

Catriona: I learned that when I'm tired so “estoy cansada”, but if you were tired then you would... “estás cansado”. I learned not to say “estoy excitada” to often but rather “estoy emocionada” or “estoy aburrida”.

Catriona: Oh yes. So my state, my emotion, like I just said “estoy aburrida”, would be that I'm bored, that I'm feeling bored, or “soy aburrida” something that I'm definetly not, would be that I'm boring.

Héctor: Good. So now, let’s try to put it all together!

Catriona: Just before we do that Héctor. Can I ask you one question? How do I say “how about you”?

Héctor: ¿Y tú?

Catriona: Ah that was easy, and I imagine then “¿y usted?” if I'm being formal. 

Héctor & Catriona: “¿Y usted?” try to emphasize the last syllable. “¿Y usted?”

Héctor: Well. Let's start with our roleplay and the first scenario, I'm going to put you in is greeting to ask how are you and depending on how you feel you tell me how you are. 

Héctor: Catriona, buenos días.

Catriona: Buenos, Héctor.

Héctor: ¿Cómo estás?

Catriona: Estoy bien, estoy un poco cansada, y ¿tú?

Héctor: Yo estoy también muy bien; emocionado por este pódcast.

Catriona: Muy bien.

Héctor: OK, so now, I want you to pretend that I am an older man that you barely know and I want you to use the proper phrases.

Catriona: OK I'll do my best. 

Héctor: Buenos días.

Catriona: Muy buenos días, señor Héctor ¿Cómo está usted?

Héctor: Estoy muy bien y, ¿usted cómo está?

Catriona: Yo también estoy bien, gracias.

Héctor: Pero no me digas usted, me puedes decir tú.

Catriona: Ah, gracias.

Héctor: OK so that last phrase meant that you don't have to use “usted” with me, you can use “tú”. 

Catriona: Making my life a lot easier.

Héctor: OK. Well done!

Catriona: I think it's improved, I think I could use a bit more practice, so definitely trying to use all the phrases I've learned in this podcast, before next time but yes its definitely clarified the “you” issue. So now is just to remember the differences and try not to offend all the Spanish speakers I meet. 

Héctor: No, we would not be offended at all. 

Héctor: And for the next episode we have a little surprise for our listeners, don’t we?

Catriona: We do indeed so if you don’t want to miss that, please remember to subscribe to A Zero to A Hero on your favorite podcast platform.

Héctor: Thanks for listening and send us your comments to podcasting@babbel.com and write A Zero to A Hero in the subject line.

Catriona: That’s all for today!

Héctor and Catriona: Hasta luego.