AUDAZ REVISTA
0 vos
Every guide says paisas say vos. We read 25 Medellín websites, 156,422 words. Not one vos command.
01 / 07
The test
A command has to choose. Regístrate is tú. Registrate is vos. Regístrese is usted.
The Metro, the bike share, museums, banks and universities. We counted every one.
02 / 07
136 to 9
136 commands used tú, 9 used usted and none used vos. We found no vos verbs like tenés or sos either.
Con EnCicla, tienes acceso gratuito a bicicletas públicas. A paisa friend would say tenés.
03 / 07
Vos is real
The RAE says vos is predominant in Antioquia, Medellín's region. A Medellín university calls it most alive there.
That same university's website used 18 tú commands and no vos. Vos is how Medellín talks. Tú is how it writes.
04 / 07
Contáctenos
Six of the 9 usted commands were one menu label, Contáctenos.
Anything that wants you to sign up, visit or buy says tú.
05 / 07
Usted at home
Paisas say usted to parents and friends. In a University of Antioquia survey, 92% said usted never sounds affectionate.
Family usted signals respect. Nothing is wrong when you hear it.
06 / 07
On the Metro
Cívica is the transit card. Recargar is to top up. Hacer transbordo is to change lines.
To reach Parque Arví: Metro to Acevedo, Línea K to Santo Domingo, then transbordo to Línea L.
07 / 07
On the street
Parce means mate. ¿Qué más? means how are you doing. A la orden is what staff say when they offer to help.
No dar papaya: do not make yourself an easy target.
Tap for the full piece, the word table and the method.