Thanks very much, Joseph!
May I ask a related question? This has to do with the age of the speaker. For example, my spouse said to me this morning, in relation to this issue, “David, at your age [70], it’s OK for you to use “você” and not worry about it, because you would most likely be older than most of the people you are speaking to!” Is there any truth behind this? I’m interested in your thoughts as one who lives in the Portuguese culture. Thanks again!
Joseph
Content Support
May 17
David2019:
If others see that we are saying it in a gentle and clearly non-sarcastic or aggressive way, one would hope that is how it would be interpreted. However, even with this, I can understand that some people just are very sensitive about being addressed this way. I have lots to learn!
Yes, I agree with this, but I’m not one to be overly formal with anyone. Still, I can count maybe one person in my entire life that ever expressed any kind of mild discomfort after hearing me say ‘você’ and he was my teacher and a very old and traditional one at that. Teachers are generally addressed as “o professor/a professora”, which I use as well. I just slipped up once! I’ve had many more people act playfully offended for being treated so formally, actually (apart from situations that require it, of course).