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danielintempesta@lemmy.world

ok so is the whole usted being polite thing like asking "does her highness want more wine?" instead of addressing the person directly? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 months ago by Apytele@sh.itjust.works to c/spanish@lemmy.world

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[–] Apytele@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Well I'm southern so I say sir and ma'am almost reflexively (and occasionally get tripped up when I meet a northern "miss") but it helps me tense usted to know that is actually the same origin of referring to a dignitary in the third person. And I'll probably get around to referring to most patients that way, most of my job is talking people out of dumb decisions and it's always helped to lead with sir and ma'am so presumably usted will yield similar results.