Politeness with 'jūs'

01

"tu" versus "jūs"

• tu - for one person you are close to: family, friends, children, peers.
• jūs - the polite form for one person you should show respect to (a stranger, an older person, an official), and the only form for more than one person.

When in doubt with an adult you do not know, use jūs; it is the safe, respectful default.

02

The Verb Goes Plural

With polite jūs, the verb takes its second-person plural form, exactly as it would for a real plural "you". The same word serves "you all" and "you (polite, one person)":

• Iš kur jūs esate?

  Where are you from? (polite)

• Ko jūs norite?

  What would you like? (polite)

• Ar jūs kalbate angliškai?

  Do you speak English? (polite)

Compare the familiar versions with tu: iš kur tu esi, ko tu nori, ar tu kalbi.

03

Polite Commands

A request to someone you address as jūs uses the -kite command form:

• Prašau, sėskitės.

  Please, sit down.

• Palaukite minutę.

  Wait a minute.

• Atleiskite.

  Excuse me. / Forgive me.

04

Polite Set Phrases

Many courtesies are built on the polite form and on the "would" form:

• Ar galėtumėte pakartoti?

  Could you repeat that?

• Atsiprašau, kiek valanda?

  Excuse me, what time is it?

05

Titles

With jūs go the polite titles ponas (Mr / sir) and ponia (Mrs / madam), often with the person's name; in direct address they take the calling form:

• Laba diena, pone.

  Good day, sir.

• Ačiū, ponia.

  Thank you, madam.

06

Polite Everyday Words

A handful of courtesies smooth almost every interaction, and they go hand in hand with the jūs register:

• Ačiū.

  Thank you.

• Prašom.

  Please. / Here you are. / You're welcome.

• Atsiprašau.

  Excuse me. / I'm sorry.

07

Moving to "tu"

Switching from jūs to tu is a friendly step that, by custom, the older or more senior person offers first. Until that happens, staying with jūs shows respect - so when you are unsure, keep to the plural form and you will not give offence.