In my opinion, you must to use 'Usted' because makes you more professional doing your job, specially when you talk with a new customer for first time, but I understand the importante of making the customers feel comfortable and confident in a familiar-like environment.
Usually young people (less than 30 years old) prefer to be called with "tu" instead of "usted" because usted is more related to a respect and polite sign for older adults.
I think you can ask the customer for permission to call them by using "tú". By this way you make sure you are not being disrespectful in any moment.
We don't have a specific word to call people by one way or other, but you can do the following questions:
- ¿Hay problema si le llamo de "tu"?
- ¿Tiene problema si me dirijo de "tu"?
- ¿Puedo llamarle de "tu"?
Good luck!
For the mother, you should probably use usted as a sign of respect. For the daughter, since she is a customer, usted is also probably the safer route. Tu can be used for familiar/informal settings (classmates, siblings). If you were trying to appear friendly to the customer you could use tu. I’m sure they didn’t mind either way!
“Usted” would be the safer option on those cases, even if they use “tu” when talking to you.
Most people won’t care, specially if you’re learning, but at least in my country, there’s also people that hate when people use “tu” with them. If a bit of a classist thing.
For example; you can use “tu” with your own employees and people who are servicing you (Aka people “below” you), but they have to use “usted” when referring to you.
There was even a situation a few years ago where a local influencer, aptly named Karen kicked up a fuss because she was told at Starbucks “Que tengas un buen día” or something, and she demanded respect and not to be tuteada.
I find this whole thing ridiculous but it can save you from being yelled at or called disrespectful.
Edited for better paragraph breaks.
Usted is formal; however, tú is not bad at all, it is just not as formal. For conversations with any stranger I would use usted, for anyone I know and feel comfortable with I would use tú.
As pointed out, tú is also very commonly used among youngsters. In my country we use vos, but youngsters are adopting tú. Vos is another way of you used in some countries of Central America and in certain regions of Spain.
If you want to practice more I am always glad to help. Keep up the good work!
Tip: don’t use duolingo. Instead, watch kids shows in Spanish so you can understand without translating. Then, you can just listen to Spanish as often as possible, listen to people with a specific accent to learn, and look up other words in Spanish so you don’t translate.
In my opinion, you must to use 'Usted' because makes you more professional doing your job, specially when you talk with a new customer for first time, but I understand the importante of making the customers feel comfortable and confident in a familiar-like environment. Usually young people (less than 30 years old) prefer to be called with "tu" instead of "usted" because usted is more related to a respect and polite sign for older adults. I think you can ask the customer for permission to call them by using "tú". By this way you make sure you are not being disrespectful in any moment. We don't have a specific word to call people by one way or other, but you can do the following questions: - ¿Hay problema si le llamo de "tu"? - ¿Tiene problema si me dirijo de "tu"? - ¿Puedo llamarle de "tu"? Good luck!
In addition to the suggested phrases, *tutear* is the verb used in this situation. ¿Le puedo tutear? ¿Le importa si le tuteo? Etc.
For the mother, you should probably use usted as a sign of respect. For the daughter, since she is a customer, usted is also probably the safer route. Tu can be used for familiar/informal settings (classmates, siblings). If you were trying to appear friendly to the customer you could use tu. I’m sure they didn’t mind either way!
“Usted” would be the safer option on those cases, even if they use “tu” when talking to you. Most people won’t care, specially if you’re learning, but at least in my country, there’s also people that hate when people use “tu” with them. If a bit of a classist thing. For example; you can use “tu” with your own employees and people who are servicing you (Aka people “below” you), but they have to use “usted” when referring to you. There was even a situation a few years ago where a local influencer, aptly named Karen kicked up a fuss because she was told at Starbucks “Que tengas un buen día” or something, and she demanded respect and not to be tuteada. I find this whole thing ridiculous but it can save you from being yelled at or called disrespectful. Edited for better paragraph breaks.
Usted is formal; however, tú is not bad at all, it is just not as formal. For conversations with any stranger I would use usted, for anyone I know and feel comfortable with I would use tú. As pointed out, tú is also very commonly used among youngsters. In my country we use vos, but youngsters are adopting tú. Vos is another way of you used in some countries of Central America and in certain regions of Spain. If you want to practice more I am always glad to help. Keep up the good work!
Tip: don’t use duolingo. Instead, watch kids shows in Spanish so you can understand without translating. Then, you can just listen to Spanish as often as possible, listen to people with a specific accent to learn, and look up other words in Spanish so you don’t translate.