A1 Honorifics & Register 1 min read Leicht

Understanding Formal 'Vi' vs. Informal 'Ti'

Als gelernt markieren
Jetzt üben

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'ti' for friends and family, and 'vi' for strangers, elders, or in professional settings to show respect.

  • Use 'ti' (singular informal) for friends, family, children, and peers: 'Kako si ti?'
  • Use 'vi' (plural/formal) for strangers, superiors, and elders: 'Kako ste Vi?'
  • Always capitalize 'Vi' when writing a formal letter to show extra respect.
Friend = Ti (T) | Stranger = Vi (V)

Pronoun and Verb Agreement

Pronoun Type Verb (Raditi) Example
Ti
Informal
radiš
Što radiš?
Vi
Formal
radite
Što radite?

Meanings

The distinction between informal and formal address, known as the T-V distinction, which dictates how you address someone based on social distance and hierarchy.

1

Informal (Ti)

Used for close friends, family, and children.

“Kako si?”

“Što radiš?”

2

Formal (Vi)

Used for strangers, business, and elders.

“Kako ste?”

“Što radite?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Understanding Formal 'Vi' vs. Informal 'Ti'
Form Structure Example
Informal
Ti + verb
Kako si?
Formal
Vi + verb
Kako ste?
Formal (Written)
Vi (capitalized)
Poštovani Vi
Negative (Inf)
Nisi + verb
Nisi sretan?
Negative (Form)
Niste + verb
Niste sretni?
Question (Inf)
Verb + ti
Ideš li?
Question (Form)
Verb + vi
Idete li?

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
Kako ste Vi?

Kako ste Vi? (Greeting)

Neutral
Kako ste?

Kako ste? (Greeting)

Informell
Kako si?

Kako si? (Greeting)

Umgangssprache
Šta ima?

Šta ima? (Greeting)

Social Distance Map

Address

Close

  • Ti Informal

Distant

  • Vi Formal
Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Kako si ti?

How are you? (informal)

2

Kako ste Vi?

How are you? (formal)

3

Ti si moj prijatelj.

You are my friend.

4

Vi ste ljubazni.

You are kind.

1

Što radiš danas?

What are you doing today?

2

Što radite danas?

What are you doing today?

3

Možeš li mi pomoći?

Can you help me?

4

Možete li mi pomoći?

Can you help me?

1

Drago mi je što Vas vidim.

I am glad to see you.

2

Jesi li siguran?

Are you sure?

3

Jeste li sigurni?

Are you sure?

4

Hvala Vam na pomoći.

Thank you for your help.

1

Molim Vas, sjednite.

Please, have a seat.

2

Sjedni ovdje.

Sit here.

3

Vi ste odgovorni za ovaj projekt.

You are responsible for this project.

4

Ti si odgovoran za ovaj projekt.

You are responsible for this project.

1

Cijenim Vaše mišljenje.

I appreciate your opinion.

2

Tvoje mišljenje mi puno znači.

Your opinion means a lot to me.

3

Očekujem Vas sutra.

I expect you tomorrow.

4

Očekujem te sutra.

I expect you tomorrow.

1

Izvolite, ovo je za Vas.

Here you go, this is for you.

2

Evo ti ovo.

Here, take this.

3

Vi ste u pravu.

You are right.

4

Ti si u pravu.

You are right.

Leicht verwechselbar

Understanding Formal 'Vi' vs. Informal 'Ti' vs. Plural 'Vi' vs Formal 'Vi'

Learners think 'Vi' is only for groups.

Understanding Formal 'Vi' vs. Informal 'Ti' vs. Ti vs Tvoj

Mixing pronoun and possessive.

Understanding Formal 'Vi' vs. Informal 'Ti' vs. Vi vs Vaš

Mixing pronoun and possessive.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Kako si Vi?

✓

Kako ste Vi?

Mixing informal pronoun with formal verb.
✗

Ti radite?

✓

Ti radiš?

Wrong verb ending for pronoun.
✗

Vi si dobro?

✓

Vi ste dobro?

Wrong verb form.
✗

Kako ti?

✓

Kako si ti?

Missing the verb.
✗

Vi radiš ovdje?

✓

Vi radite ovdje?

Inconsistent register.
✗

Ti ste moj prijatelj.

✓

Ti si moj prijatelj.

Wrong verb.
✗

Vi si gospodin.

✓

Vi ste gospodin.

Wrong verb.
✗

Možeš li Vi pomoći?

✓

Možete li Vi pomoći?

Mixing registers.
✗

Tvoj posao je Vi.

✓

Vaš posao je Vi.

Wrong possessive pronoun.
✗

Vi si došao.

✓

Vi ste došli.

Wrong verb/participle.
✗

Vi si se sjetio.

✓

Vi ste se sjetili.

Wrong verb agreement.
✗

Tvoje poštovanje.

✓

Vaše poštovanje.

Wrong possessive.
✗

Ti ste.

✓

Vi ste.

Wrong pronoun.

Satzmuster

Kako ___ Vi?

Kako ___ ti?

___ ste Vi?

___ si ti?

Real World Usage

Restaurant constant

Što želite naručiti?

Texting constant

Kako si?

Job Interview very common

Kako ste?

Shopping common

Koliko košta?

Social Media common

Što radiš?

Doctor common

Kako se osjećate?

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen
💡

When in doubt, use Vi

It is always better to be too polite than too casual.
⚠️

Don't mix registers

Using 'ti' and 'vi' in the same sentence is confusing.
🎯

Watch the verb

The verb ending is the biggest clue to the register.
💬

The switch

Wait for the other person to suggest using 'ti'.

Smart Tips

Always start with 'Vi'.

Kako si? → Kako ste?

Capitalize 'Vi'.

Poštovani vi, → Poštovani Vi,

Use 'vi' for everyone.

Kako si vi? → Kako ste vi?

Stick to 'Vi'.

Ti si... → Vi ste...

Aussprache

/v/ vs /t/

V vs T

V is voiced, T is unvoiced. Ensure clear distinction.

Question

Kako ste Vi? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

T is for 'Together' (friends), V is for 'Very formal' (strangers).

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a bridge. On one side, you are hugging a friend (Ti). On the other side, you are shaking hands with a stranger (Vi).

Rhyme

Use 'ti' for a friend you see, use 'vi' for a stranger you meet with glee.

Story

Marko meets a new boss. He says 'Vi'. They work together for a year. Finally, the boss says 'Let's use ti'. Now they are friends.

Word Web

TiViPrijateljStranacPoštovanjeRazgovor

Herausforderung

Try to address everyone you meet today in your head as either 'ti' or 'vi' based on your relationship.

Kulturelle Hinweise

The transition to 'ti' is a formal request.

Derived from Old Church Slavonic.

Gesprächseinstiege

“

Kako ste danas?

“

Kako si?

“

Možete li mi pomoći?

“

Želiš li kavu?

Tagebuch-Impulse

Write about a person you use 'vi' with.
Write about your best friend.
Describe a formal meeting.
Describe a party with friends.

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Incorrect

Richtig

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Kako ___ Vi?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ste
Vi takes the 2nd person plural verb.
Fill in the blank.

Kako ___ ti?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: si
Ti takes the 2nd person singular verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Kako si Vi?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kako ste Vi?
Must match pronoun and verb.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Kako si?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kako ste?
Formal uses plural verb.
Match the register. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Friend vs Stranger
Ti is for friends, Vi for strangers.
Select the formal form. Multiple Choice

Što ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: radite
Radite is formal.
Fill in the blank.

___ si moj prijatelj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ti
Ti is for friends.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vi radiš.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi radite.
Must match.

Score: /8

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Kako ___ Vi?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ste
Vi takes the 2nd person plural verb.
Fill in the blank.

Kako ___ ti?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: si
Ti takes the 2nd person singular verb.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Kako si Vi?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kako ste Vi?
Must match pronoun and verb.
Change to formal. Sentence Transformation

Kako si?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kako ste?
Formal uses plural verb.
Match the register. Match Pairs

Ti vs Vi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Friend vs Stranger
Ti is for friends, Vi for strangers.
Select the formal form. Multiple Choice

Što ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: radite
Radite is formal.
Fill in the blank.

___ si moj prijatelj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ti
Ti is for friends.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vi radiš.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vi radite.
Must match.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Yes, when used as a singular address.

Only if they ask you to.

People will understand you are a learner.

Yes, in formal writing.

Yes, 'vi' is also the standard plural.

Ask 'Možemo li si ti?'

No.

It shows respect and cultural awareness.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Registriere dich kostenlos zum Üben

In Other Languages

German high

Du/Sie

None.

French high

Tu/Vous

None.

Spanish high

Tú/Usted

None.

Japanese moderate

Desu/Masu

Japanese changes verbs, not just pronouns.

Arabic moderate

Anta/Antum

Arabic is more gendered.

Chinese moderate

Ni/Nin

Chinese 'Nin' is only for singular.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Question Forms with 'Biti'

Related Grammar Rules

C1

Address Forms and Titles (Gospodin, Gospođa)
C1

Formal vs. Informal Vocabulary Choices
C1

Grammatical Structures in Formal Writing (e.g., passive, nominalization)
C1

Use of Honorific Plural 'Vi' and its Agreement
Was this helpful?

Kommentare (0)

Zum Kommentieren Anmelden
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!