Using Vos in Spanish: Common Present-Tense and Command Patterns

In this lesson, you will use a common Río de la Plata-style voseo pattern. Vos is an informal singular subject pronoun used in several Spanish-speaking regions. The exact forms vary by region, so the model here should not be treated as the only voseo system.

Vos as informal singular you

Compare:

— You have time.

Both address one person informally, but they belong to different regional systems.

Common present-tense pattern

In the common Río de la Plata pattern, many present-tense vos forms stress the final syllable.

Infinitive	Vos form	Meaning
		you speak
		you eat
		you live
		you have
		you come
		you can

Examples

— You speak very quickly.
— Where do you live?
— Do you have time tomorrow?
— Can you help me?

Stress matters

Compare:

— you speak

The written accent reflects final stress in the common pattern taught here.

Common affirmative vos commands

Infinitive	Vos command	Meaning
		speak
		eat
		come
		say / tell
		do / make
		leave / go out

Command examples

— Come tomorrow.
— Tell me the truth.
— Make the booking today.
— Leave through this door.

Vos still uses te as an object or reflexive pronoun

— I will call you tomorrow.
— What is your name?
— Sit here.

The subject pronoun is vos, but the familiar object and reflexive pronoun is te.

Possessive tu remains common

— What is your number?
— Bring your document.

Do not replace tu with a special vos possessive in the common pattern taught here.

Negative commands

A common Río de la Plata pattern uses present subjunctive forms with vos-oriented stress:

— Do not speak so quickly.
— Do not arrive late.

Regional patterns can vary, and this lesson focuses mainly on the most frequent affirmative forms and present-tense recognition.

Do not mix tú and vos randomly

Mixed:

— You have time.

Consistent Río de la Plata-style pattern:

— You have time.

If you choose voseo for practice, keep the main pattern consistent.

Other voseo systems exist

Voseo is used in several countries and regions, and not all of them use exactly the same present-tense or command forms as the Río de la Plata. Recognize regional variation rather than treating one model as universal.

Short conversation

Person A: — Are you working tomorrow?

Person B: — Yes, but I leave at four.

Person A: — Then come to my house after work.

Person B: — Okay, I will call you when I leave.

Dale is a common conversational response in parts of the Río de la Plata. Treat it as regional vocabulary meaning roughly okay / go ahead depending on context.

A practical vos method

Use vos as an informal singular subject in a voseo variety.
Use the common final-stress present forms taught here: , , , , , .
Use common affirmative commands such as , , , , , and .
Keep te as the object or reflexive pronoun.
Keep tu as the common possessive.
Do not mix tú morphology and vos morphology randomly.
Remember that other regional voseo patterns exist.

From Vos to Self-Correction

You can now understand and use one common voseo pattern consistently. The next lesson teaches you how to notice and repair an important speaking mistake without restarting the whole conversation.