Tu or lei?
We use tu (you) to address people we're informal with or close to, like our family, friends, children, and people our own age. The verb is in the second person singular form Pronomi personali soggetto.
Tu non mi ascolti mai, mamma!
You never listen to me, Mom!
Andiamo al cinema, vieni anche tu?
We're going to the movies, are you coming too?
We use lei (you) when talking to people we're more formal with, strangers and older people, or in professional contexts (at least at first). The verb is in the third person singular form.
Mi scusi, lei è spagnolo?
Excuse me, are you Spanish?
Vorrei un'informazione, posso chiedere a lei?
I'd like some information, may I ask you?
When talking to more than one person (whether informally or formally), we use the plural “you”, voi:
Voi siete dei signori molto simpatici.
You're very kind, Sirs.
Note: using tu is very common; lei is only used in professional or very formal contexts. If you want to stop calling someone lei and start calling them tu, you should check with them first if that's okay:
Possiamo darci del tu?
Can we start using tu?
Le posso dare del tu?
May I call you tu?
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