dare del tu
to address informally (using 'tu')
Intermediate Phrase
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Pronunciation
/ˈdaːre del ˈtuː/
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Cultural Note
The shift from 'dare del Lei' (formal) to 'dare del tu' (informal) is a significant social moment in Italian relationships. It marks growing intimacy or acceptance. In some regions of Italy, the formal 'Voi' is still used instead of 'Lei,' especially in the South.
📝 Example Sentences
Possiamo darci del tu?
Can we use the informal 'you' with each other?
Al lavoro ci diamo tutti del tu.
At work we all use informal address.
Con i suoceri, meglio dare del Lei all'inizio.
With in-laws, it's better to use formal address at first.