Spanish has actually three levels of formality when addressing someone by name:
<First name>: Informal, casual conversation.
Don <First name>: More formal, conveys respect while still indicating some closeness.
Señor <Last name>: Most formal, normally used in writing.
Using only someone's last name is just plain weird. If you want to speak formally to someone just address them as "usted", it will get you the same goodwill without sounding off.
The only situation where I call people by their last name in my language is when it's their nickname. Like there were two "Johns" so we call the second one "Smith".
In Spain maybe if you are something really important or being addressed on very formal environments. Maybe a boss/manager from a corporation addressing clients...
As a tourist, it's a cheat code to be hyper formal. Gets you instant goodwill.
Spanish has actually three levels of formality when addressing someone by name:
<First name>: Informal, casual conversation.
Don <First name>: More formal, conveys respect while still indicating some closeness.
Señor <Last name>: Most formal, normally used in writing.
Using only someone's last name is just plain weird. If you want to speak formally to someone just address them as "usted", it will get you the same goodwill without sounding off.
Don it's very outdated unless you address a very important person.
3 replies →
Same.
The only situation where I call people by their last name in my language is when it's their nickname. Like there were two "Johns" so we call the second one "Smith".
In Portugal it's very associated with military service. I don't think I've ever been addressed by my last name here.
In Spain maybe if you are something really important or being addressed on very formal environments. Maybe a boss/manager from a corporation addressing clients...