regional.ar.voseo-rioplatense

Rioplatense voseo: vos as the full standard

In Argentina and Uruguay, vos is the universal, prestige second person — vos tenés, sos, vení — used in speech, media, and school. Tú is essentially absent; usted marks formality.

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Explanation

Unlike Bolivian voseo, Rioplatense vos is the full, unmarked standard: it is used by everyone — in advertising, journalism, and the classroom — with no stigma. The present indicative stresses the ending (vos tenés, podés, querés, sabés), and the verb 'to be' is vos sos.

The affirmative imperative drops the -d and stresses the last syllable: vení, comé, andá, mirá, hacé, decí. Pronouns and possessives stay tú-based (te, tu, tuyo): vos te vas, es tu casa.

The subjunctive is where usage splits: standard Argentine prefers the tú-form (que tengas, que vengas), while the voseo subjunctive (que tengás, que vengás) is heard in colloquial and emphatic speech. Usted is reserved for respect, officialdom, and distance.

Examples

¿Vos sabés a qué hora llega el bondi?
Do you know what time the bus arrives?

Region: AR

Vení, sentate y contame todo.
Come, sit down and tell me everything.

Region: AR

Sos vos el que decide, che.
You're the one who decides, mate.

Region: AR

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