Quick answer
ты for friends, family, children and peers your age. вы for strangers, older people, officials — and always for more than one person.
ты
informal, one person
- Friends and family
- Children
- Colleagues your age
- Verb ends in -ешь / -ишь
Как у тебя́ дела́?How are you?
вы
polite, or several people
- Strangers
- Anyone older
- Shops, offices, doctors
- Verb ends in -ете / -ите
Как у вас дела́?How are you?
The verb changes with it
| ты | вы | |
|---|---|---|
| to speak | говори́шь | говори́те |
| to know | зна́ешь | зна́ете |
| to live | живёшь | живёте |
| object form | тебя́ / тебе́ | вас / вам |
Switching to ты
The move from вы to ты is a small social event. The older or senior person offers it: Дава́й на ты! — “let’s use ты”. Until then, stay with вы; nobody has ever been offended by too much politeness.
When in doubt
Извини́те, вы не зна́ете, где метро́?Excuse me, do you know where the metro is? — a stranger
Приве́т! Ты идёшь с на́ми?Hi! Are you coming with us? — a friend
Здра́вствуйте, как вас зову́т?Hello, what is your name? — polite
Typical mistakes
Saying ты to an older stranger
вы
It lands somewhere between over-familiar and rude. Use вы until you are invited to switch.
Как дела́, вы? to a close friend
Как дела́?
Over-formality with friends sounds cold or ironic.
Check yourself
You ask a stranger on the street for directions. Which do you use?
Strangers always get вы, no matter how old they look.