How should I address my Ecuadorian host mother (tú or usted)?

Question

I'm going to be living with an Ecuadorian women this summer as part of a home stay program that I'm participating in. I'm thinking I should be addressing her as "usted," am I right?

Answer 1

Use usted to begin

when you feel that you are beginning to have less formal conversations with the family and become more aquatinted use tu.

You could ask: "cuando puedo llamar a usted ti?"

Answer 2

Usted ... always.. unless she tells u otherwise...

Answer 3

Use "usted" at first because its the formal/respectful way of speaking to someone. Once you two are more familiar with each other, you can use "tu" unless you're in Cuenca, we usually say "vos" instead of "tu"

Answer 4

Usted is correct.  After some time you may use tu, if the host so indicates.  It is common to use usted in public and tu when you are not in public.  So, even if you are invited  to use tu be sure to use usted in public.

Answer 5

The proper way to address an older person is "Usted". If that person feels uncomfortable about been addressed as Usted, she will ask you to "tutear" (address her as "tu"). This can happen because "Usted" can be seen as cold and formal.

Remember that the verb change between Tu and Usted.

Simple Present verbs to watch (mirar, 1st verbal form "ar"), to eat (comer ,2nd verbal form "er") and to sleep (dormir, 3rd verbal form "ir"):

Tu =  Miras (you watch) - comes (you eat) - duermes (you sleep)

Usted = Mira (you wath) - come (you eat) - duerme (you sleep)

Imperative form, same verbs than above:

Tu = Mira (watch) - come (eat) - duerme (sleep)

Usted = Mire (watch) - coma (eat) - duerma (sleep)

Answer 6

Use usted until you are told differently by the family.