Plural pronouns and the verb to be (somos, son)

We and They: Gendered Pronouns

Spanish pronouns change depending on who is in the group:

  • nosotros / nosotras (we)
  • ellos / ellas (they)

Use the -os ending for a group of men or a mixed group. Use the -as ending only for a group made up entirely of women.

You All: Ustedes

In Latin America, there is only one way to say "you" to a group of people: ustedes. It is used for everyone, whether you are talking to close friends or strangers.

The Verb Ser: Plural Forms

When using plural pronouns, the verb ser (to be) changes to match:

PronounVerb (ser)
nosotros / nosotrassomos
ustedesson
ellos / ellasson

Examples with somos:

We are from Peru.
Nosotros somos de Perú.
We are sisters from Chile.
Nosotras somos hermanas de Chile.

Examples with son:

You are students from Colombia.
Ustedes son estudiantes de Colombia.
They are teachers in Argentina.
Ellos son profesores en Argentina.
They are friends.
Ellas son amigas.

Dropping the Pronoun

Just like with singular verbs, you can often drop the subject pronoun. Because somos always means "we are", the pronoun is frequently left out.

We are students from Mexico.
Somos estudiantes de México.