On October 25, 2021, I had the honor of speaking with Samuel who was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and is currently a sophomore at Longwood University. Sam and I have been friends for a good amount of time now but I had never had the chance to talk to him about his background before. We were able to have a really fascinating conversation on the difference in formality in Colombia and the United States.
Sam moved to the United States in 2007 when he was only five years old. Even though he was so young when he moved, the idea of formality is such a big part of his culture he was able to speak heavily on the topic. The idea of formality is important for us to understand especially if you plan to ever visit Colombia. The United States is a very informal country compared to many other countries. If you were to visit a different country or culture you would want to show respect by understanding their level of formality.
One of the first questions I asked Sam was related to how he would address someone of respect in Colombia. “In Colombia, we tend to address people that are significantly older than us with Señor or Señora, depending on if they are male/female. There is also a difference in the way we use “you”.In a formal setting we use “Usted” with elders or superiors. “Tu” can be used with anyone else.” While talking, I noticed how passionately Sam spoke on this topic.
In the U.S. we often will address adults or someone who holds a higher power of position in the workplace by their first name. This is incredibly uncommon in Colombia and is seen as being disrespectful. When addressing an elder in Colombia, it is important to always use their last name and formal title.
I quickly became curious on how someone would address a friend in Colombia, “When addressing a friend, it is less formal, we would address them by their name or even a nickname they have and use no formal title”. This was interesting to me because it is very similar to how we address friends here in the United States.
When finishing up the interview with Sam, I asked him if there were consequences for addressing someone using the wrong title in Colombia. “There are not crazy consequences other than how you are seen. If it is to your parents, you may get grounded or talked to about it. In a job, it may affect your reputation as a worker. In the military it could get you punished however”. When Sam spoke of the punishment from the military, I found that was also true for Americans.
The biggest take away I want to leave with you is the importance of how you address a stranger in Colombia. If you are going to visit Colombia, take the time to research the proper formal titles. You do not want to come off as a disrespectful tourist. You also do not want to come off as disrespecting Colombian culture.