Should I use tú or usted in Spanish?

Use usted for banks, health, legal topics and older audiences, and tú for casual brands and young readers. In Spain tú is common even in business, while in Colombia and Central America usted is often used even with friends.

Is there one Spanish that works for all countries?

A neutral Latin American Spanish is used for many apps and dubbed shows, and it is understood everywhere. It still reads a little foreign in Spain, so choose a region when you can.

Why is my Spanish text longer than the English?

Spanish usually needs more words for the same idea, so expect around 15 to 25% more length. Ask your agent for shorter versions of buttons and headlines that must fit a space.

Can todo.is translate a whole document and keep the layout?

Yes. Attach a Word file or PDF and your agent keeps headings, lists and tables in place. Complex PDF layouts can shift a little, so check the result.

Translate English to Spanish that sounds local, not machine-made

You run an online store and more and more customers write in Spanish. Word-for-word tools mix Spain and Mexico vocabulary and switch between tú and usted mid-page. This prompt has your todo.is agent translate for one specific audience, keep the formatting and explain the choices it made.

The prompt

Translate [ATTACH THE FILE OR PASTE THE TEXT] from English into Spanish for readers in [COUNTRY OR REGION]. Address the reader as [TÚ OR USTED] and keep that consistent everywhere. The text is a [TYPE OF TEXT], so match its tone: [TONE]. Keep headings, lists, links and bold text where they are. Do not translate brand names, product codes or these terms: [TERMS TO KEEP IN ENGLISH]. Use local words for that region (for example celular vs móvil) and normal Spanish punctuation with ¿ and ¡. Deliver a Word file with the Spanish version, plus a short table of key terms with the English, the Spanish you used and why.

What to change

[ATTACH THE FILE OR PASTE THE TEXT]: Attach a Word file, PDF or screenshot, or paste the text right into the to-do.
[COUNTRY OR REGION]: E.g. "Mexico", "Spain", "Argentina", "US Hispanic customers" or "neutral Latin American Spanish".
[TÚ OR USTED]: "tú" is friendly and casual, "usted" is polite and formal. Pick one.
[TYPE OF TEXT]: E.g. "shipping and returns page", "welcome email", "restaurant menu" or "flyer for a dental clinic".
[TONE]: E.g. "warm and simple", "professional" or "playful, like our Instagram".
[TERMS TO KEEP IN ENGLISH]: E.g. your brand name, "Premium plan", product names. Write "none" if there are none.

Example result

Translation: Shipping & Returns
English → Spanish (Mexico) · usted · friendly but clear
Original
Free shipping on orders over $50. Your order ships within 2 business days. Changed your mind? You can return any unworn item within 30 days. Just log in to your account, click "Start a return" and print the prepaid label.
Spanish
Envío gratis en pedidos mayores a $50. Su pedido se envía en un plazo de 2 días hábiles. ¿Cambió de opinión? Puede devolver cualquier artículo sin usar dentro de los 30 días. Solo inicie sesión en su cuenta, haga clic en "Iniciar devolución" e imprima la guía prepagada.
Key terms
• shipping → envío (not "embarque", which sounds like freight)
• business days → días hábiles (standard in Mexico; Spain also says "días laborables")
• prepaid label → guía prepagada (in Mexico a shipping label is a "guía"; in Spain you would write "etiqueta prepagada")
• log in → iniciar sesión
• unworn → sin usar
• $50 kept as is; add MXN or USD if the currency could confuse buyers
Choices to check
• I used usted throughout. Many Mexican fashion brands use tú for a younger feel. Say the word and every sentence switches.
• Spanish runs about 15–25% longer than English. "Start a return" became "Iniciar devolución", which still fits most buttons.
• "Mayores a" is the usual Mexican phrasing; Spain would say "superiores a".
• Opening marks ¿ and ¡ were added wherever the English has a question or exclamation.

How to do it with todo.is

Copy the prompt and fill in the region, tú or usted, and the kind of text.
Attach the file (Word, PDF, a screenshot) or paste the text, then send it from the Today screen in todo.is or to your agent on WhatsApp.
Your agent returns a Spanish Word file and a key-terms table you can skim in two minutes.
Reply with changes like "switch to tú" or "make it sound like Spain" and get an updated file.

Tips for a better result

Pick one country. Mexican, Argentine and Spain Spanish differ in everyday words (carro, auto, coche) and in how people say "you".
Send your glossary once and tell your agent to remember it, so product names and key terms stay the same in every future translation.
For slogans, ask for 2 or 3 options. A literal translation of a pun or rhyme rarely works in Spanish.
Have a native speaker read anything printed or legal. For official documents such as birth certificates, use a certified translator.

translate English to Spanish: FAQ

Should I use tú or usted in Spanish? Use usted for banks, health, legal topics and older audiences, and tú for casual brands and young readers. In Spain tú is common even in business, while in Colombia and Central America usted is often used even with friends.
Is there one Spanish that works for all countries? A neutral Latin American Spanish is used for many apps and dubbed shows, and it is understood everywhere. It still reads a little foreign in Spain, so choose a region when you can.
Why is my Spanish text longer than the English? Spanish usually needs more words for the same idea, so expect around 15 to 25% more length. Ask your agent for shorter versions of buttons and headlines that must fit a space.
Can todo.is translate a whole document and keep the layout? Yes. Attach a Word file or PDF and your agent keeps headings, lists and tables in place. Complex PDF layouts can shift a little, so check the result.

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