The use of "vou" in France among younger people...?

Question

In general, if someone under 18 was to meet another person of the a similar age, in a fairly relaxed setting, would the use "vou" to start with, or would they immediately use "tu" without even considering it?

Thanks

Answer 1

I lived in France for ten months.  Went I first arrived I didn't speak any French, but now I am fairly fluent.  

No matter what your age, you say "vous" to start with as a sign of respect.  However, if you don't have respect for a person or see them as "below you" you can say "tu" from the very beginning.  The Grandma of the children I looked after, for example, called her maid "tu" and she always responded "vous" even though she knew her well.  

It is hard to know when you can start using "tu" as opposed to "vous", and even the French sometimes are unsure where to draw the line, but if someone is only an acquaintance and never becomes a friend as such, they will generally remain "vous".

I hope this has helped.

Answer 2

"tu" would be used most likely. Haven't spent a lot of time in france, but that's what everyone my age did (I'm 16)

oh yeah, btw "vous" is spelled with an s at the end, even singular form...

Answer 3

Thats hard

Vous is formal, and also respect.

Tu is friendly or 'below you'

I's stick to tu to start, and see. Or just see which one they say first :)

Answer 4

Students are very casual about using the "tu" form even when just meeting and might be uncomfortable if you used the "vous" form.  If in doubt, ask:  "Est-ce que nous pouvons tutoyer?" (and more likely than not, they will say yes, of course).

Answer 5

I think you've got the tu/vous question taken care of.

However I want to correct Matt on his kissing answer. Male to male kissing exist but seems to be mostly within a family. Male/female and female/female kissing is the usual thing with friends and not so friends. Don't be surprised if you're introduced to someone and they kiss you. The problem I have with kissing is that of the number of kisses. It seems to differ from region to region. lol.

Answer 6

Bonjour, Je ni comprends pas.   parlez-vous anglais?

Answer 7

In my experience I've noticed that the young and old both use "tu" with their peers (although this may not be true of people who are over 60 or 70).  Even at work and when I was in college everyone tutoyed one another.  

The only time I use vous is when I want to be polite (i.e. to a waiter or person at a place of business regardless of age, professors/managers, adults older then me when i'm first introduced).

Note that many times after an initial introduction someone will say "oh no you can tutoie me" (just as you should feel comfortable saying if someone vousvoies you)

Answer 8

Stiffler is right. Usually they do start wiht "tu".

If one (or both) is a female, they also kiss their cheeks, even if they do not know each other.

Some time ago (in the 1950s or 60s) some people said "vous" to their parents.

Answer 9

they would use "tu" for sure.

You know, I'm 27 (i'm french) and I only use "tu" with people of the same age.