Personal pronouns (vos, tú, usted)

[matkustaja]

Hello,

I'll be traveling to Nicaragua this summer and had a question for the Spanish speakers out there. I know that vos is used in much of Central America, but it sounds like how it is used really varies from country to country. So, specifically for Nicaragua (or even more specifically, the area around Managua), how are vos, tú, and usted used? As a visiting foreigner, in what situations would I use each?

Thanks!

[Joshua Berman]

Vos, tu, and Usted are all used and understood, but in all of Nicaragua, vos is nearly always used instead of tu. You'll pick it up quickly if you listen carefully. You'll especially hear it in command forms:

"Apuráte vos!" -- Hurry up!

And in many questions:

"Que querés?" (vos) vs. "Que quieres?" (tu)

[Randall Wood]

Interestingly, in the countryside some Nicas will use tú with you, but it's because they're trying to make it easier for you to understand them.  Take the time to learn vos and they'll all be impressed.  It's not too hard.  Nicas don't use tú naturally.

[matkustaja]

So even as a foreigner talking to strangers, I'm not going to offend people by using vos from the start? I thought I read somewhere that vos is a bit more personal than tú is in standard Spanish.

[Joshua Berman]

You should always begin a conversation with a new adult using "Usted," at least for the first time or two, then switch to vos as soon as you hear them switch to vos.