Is English More Informal?

[Lusos]

In Portugal we don't directly address people we don't know using "you".
We use the third person like we were talking about someone is not there.

In formal situations, we even say "sir".

So, instead of estás pronto (are you ready), we'd ask o senhor está pronto (is sir ready).


In those situations we don't ask things directly like do you...
For example, we would't say do you let me come in, but rather does sir mind if I come in, or simply can I come in. This is similar to English I think.

It's not Sir.

It's Mr.

I'm not that formal.I'm polite.I don't use the Mr thing

[Lusos]

Yes it is similar to Spanish:

Quieres una cerveza? - Want a beer? (informal)
Quiere una cerveza? - Want a beer? (formal)

Como te llamas? - What is your name? (informal)
Como se llama? - What is your name? (formal)

Ten Cuidado! - Be Careful! (informal)
Tenga Cuidado! - Be Careful! (formal)

Tú estas acá - you are here (informal)
Usted esta acá - you are here (formal)

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In Spanish (of Latin America) you have:

Tú - singular and informal
Usted - singular and formal
Ustedes - pluaral and formal/informal

In Armenian you have:
Du - singular and informal
Duk - singular/plural and formal/informal

So you use 'duk' for formal situations for one person, but also when talking to a group (doesn't matter formal or informal situation).

Galician and Portuguese Influences.

[щрбл]

My english level do not allow to be formal as I practice it on extremely rare occasions. Other than that I don't see it as any less formal than mine.

[AverageKorhonen]

Yes,it is way more simple

Why do you think so?

[Empecinado]

Galician and Portuguese Influences.

No, in Catalan is the same.

[kkk77]

It's not Sir.

It's Mr.

I'm not that formal.I'm polite.Don't use the Mr thing

I wouldn't use você to a teacher in University.

I have some colleagues who would refer to the teacher as ele/ela, while speaking with me, with the teacher nearby. That sounds so wrong to me.

[Lusos]

I wouldn't use você to a teacher in University.

I have some colleagues who would refer to the teacher as ele/ela, while speaking with me, with the teacher nearby. That sounds so wrong to me.

"O Prof sabe que ..."

Em vez de "O Senhor quer" ou "Você quer"

No discurso directo por exemplo.

"O professor quer,gosta etc."

Ha os que vão ao limite.

"Senhor Doutor Professor pardais ao ninho"

[Lusos]

No, in Catalan is the same.

Mea Culpa.

I'm completely Ignorant about Catalan.
Well I guess both are the less known for Iberians In general.

[Comte Arnau]

Yes it does- "thou".

Actually, thou was the informal one, the equivalent to German du or Latin tu.

Mea Culpa.

I'm completely Ignorant about Catalan.
Well I guess both are the less known for Iberians In general.

In Catalan three ways of respect exist: tu (informal), vostè /(plural) vostès (formal), and vós (nowadays mostly used for the elderly people you respect). We do not have that o senhor you can find in Portuguese. We would only hear it used by servants in films: El senyor vol que li netegi l'habitació?. Other than that, Senyor and Senyora would be used as Sir or Madam.

[Leto]

Less formal than Russian.