Vósvocês

Vósvocês is a coined term used in some Brazilian Portuguese discussions to describe a perceived intergenerational pattern in forms of address that blends kinship terms with second-person pronouns. The word fuses 'vó' (grandmother) and 'vocês' (you, plural), signaling attention to both family relationships and plural address.

Origins and scope: The term appears chiefly in online language discussions, blogs, and sociolinguistic notes rather than in formal dictionaries. It is not an established linguistic category; rather, it is a colloquial shorthand for describing language variation observed in families or communities where forms of address reflect shifting norms between generations.

Usage: In practice, discussions around 'vósvocês' point to a mixed usage where speakers may address groups that include elders with pronouns that reflect familiarity or affection, while other contexts favor standard forms like 'vocês' for plural 'you'. The phenomenon is thought to reflect broader trends in Brazilian Portuguese toward the broad use of 'você' and 'vocês' across age groups, as well as the enduring role of kinship terms in speech.

Recognition and critique: Because it is not standardized, the term's interpretation can vary. Linguists emphasize regional and social variation in pronoun use and caution against over-generalizing from online discourse.

See also: Brazilian Portuguese, Pronoun usage in Portuguese, Tu and Você, Sociolinguistics.