vous

Czech

Etymology

Polish wąs.

Noun

vous m

1. beard

See also

• knír m

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French

Etymology

Latin vos.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /vu/

• audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -u
• Homophone: voue

Pronoun

vous (formal singular, and plural)

1. The plural personal pronoun in the second person:
   1. (subject pronoun) You.

      Vous allez - You go.

   2. (direct object pronoun) You.

      Je vous adore - I love you.

2. You, to you (indirect object pronoun).

   Je vous donne mon adresse - I give you my address or I give my address to you.

3. The plural or singular personal pronoun in the second person, at the polite form:

   Monsieur je ne vous connais pas - Mister I don't know you.

Usage notes

• Vous is used to address more than one person or to address one person formally.
• Vous is used, for example, when two persons meet for the first time. Each person would continue to use vous even if the pair spent the whole day and evening together. But the next time they meet, even the next day, each would use tu instead.
• The use of vous is always considered professional and is used in office settings, schools, etc. to address a single person even when the speaker knows that person well. Thus, Avez-vous fini? (are you finished) may often be heard in an office setting, while As-tu fini? (singular, personal you) is not as common.

Related terms

French personal pronouns

Number	Person	Gender	Nominative (subject)	Reflexive	Accusative (direct complement)	Dative (indirect complement)	Locative (at)	Genitive (of)	Disjunctive (tonic)
Singular	First	—	je, j’	me, m’			—	—	moi
	Second	—	tu, t’	te, t’			—	—	toi
	Third	Masculine	il	se, s’	le, l’	lui	y	en	lui
		Feminine	elle		la, l’				elle
		—	on		—	—	—	—	soi
Plural	First	—	nous	nous			—	—	nous
	Second	—	vous	vous			—	—	vous
	Third	Masculine	ils	se, s’	les	leur	y	en	eux
		Feminine	elles						elles

Derived terms

• vous-même, vous-mêmes
• vouvoyer
• comment allez-vous

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Middle French

Etymology

Latin vos

Pronoun

vous

1. you (plural or polite form)

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Old French

Etymology

Latin vos

Pronoun

vous

1. Alternative form of vos.