3 ms·
I read long ago in a book by Mario Pei that "usted" was originally "vuestra merced" (your grace).
by jejones3141 13y ago
I read long ago in a book by Mario Pei that "usted" was originally "vuestra merced" (your grace).
- gdwatson 13y agoI remember learning that in high school, and things made so much more sense; it explains why usted takes third-person verbs and possessive pronouns. Wasn't vosotros used as a formal tu at one time, especially with regard to royalty? I seem to recall reading that, but I can't say it with any degree of confidence.