vousvoyer

The much thornier problem of whether to vousvoyer or tutoyer Ahmadou solved itself. At first I sought refuge in the impersonal on ("Can one have a glass of water, please?" instead of "Please bring me a glass of water.") But Ahmadou was soon tutoyer-ing me as often as vousvoyer-ing me, although he continued to use the formal "Monsieur," so I came to use the familiar form in addressing him.