Possessive pronouns in German show ownership or belonging and always agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they refer to—not the owner. They are derived from personal pronouns with an added “-’s-” (like “mein-” for “my” or “dein-” for “your”). Here’s what you need to know:
- Base forms: mein- (my), dein- (your), sein- (his), ihr- (her), unser- (our), euer- (your, plural), ihr- (their), Ihr- (your, formal)
- Added endings depend on the gender, number, and case of the noun (same as adjective endings)
- Used without a noun if context is clear (standalone forms)
Possessive Pronoun Endings
Endings are added to the base forms to match the noun’s gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive).
| Case & Gender | Ending | Example with mein- (my) |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | -er (m), -e (f), -es (n), -e (pl) | mein Bruder, meine Schwester, mein Kind, meine Bücher* |
| Accusative | -en (m), -e (f), -es (n), -e (pl) | Ich sehe meinen Bruder, meine Schwester, mein Kind, meine Bücher* |
| Dative | -em (m/n), -er (f), -en (pl + -n) | mit meinem Bruder, meiner Schwester, meinem Kind, meinen Freunden* |
| Genitive | -es (m/n, +s/es), -er (f/pl) | wegen meines Bruders, meiner Schwester, meines Kindes, meiner Freunde* |
Possessive Pronouns Table (Nominative Singular)
| Person | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Neuter Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich (I) | mein Bruder | meine Schwester | mein Kind | meine Freunde |
| du (you) | dein Bruder | deine Schwester | dein Kind | deine Freunde |
| er (he) | sein Bruder | seine Schwester | sein Kind | seine Freunde |
| sie (she) | ihr Bruder | ihre Schwester | ihr Kind | ihre Freunde |
| es (it) | sein Bruder | seine Schwester | sein Kind | seine Freunde |
| wir (we) | unser Bruder | unsere Schwester | unser Kind | unsere Freunde |
| ihr (you pl.) | euer Bruder | eure Schwester | euer Kind | eure Freunde |
| sie (they) | ihr Bruder | ihre Schwester | ihr Kind | ihre Freunde |
| Sie (you formal) | Ihr Bruder | Ihre Schwester | Ihr Kind | Ihre Freunde |
What is the base form of the possessive pronoun for "sie" (she)?
ihr-
The base form for the possessive pronoun referring to "sie" (she) is "ihr-".
Examples by Case
Nominative: Subject of the Sentence
Der Besitz steht im Vordergrund (The ownership is in the foreground).*
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Mein Auto ist rot. | My car is red. |
| Ihre Tasche ist teuer. | Her bag is expensive. |
| Unser Hund schläft. | Our dog is sleeping. |
Accusative: Direct Object
Das besitze ich (I possess that).*
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich sehe deinen Bruder. | I see your brother. |
| Sie kauft mein Kleid. | She buys my dress. |
| Wir hören ihre Musik. | We listen to their music. |
Dative: Indirect Object
Dem Besitz wird Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt (Attention is given to the ownership).*
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich gebe meinem Freund ein Buch. | I give my friend a book. |
| Sie hilft ihrer Schwester. | She helps her sister. |
| Wir danken unseren Eltern. | We thank our parents. |
Genitive: Possession (Often Used in Formal or Written Contexts)
Die Herkunft wird betont (The origin is emphasized).*
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Das ist das Auto meines Vaters. | That is my father’s car. |
| Wegen ihrer Krankheit blieb sie zu Hause. | Because of her illness, she stayed home. |
| Während unseres Urlaubs regnete es. | During our vacation, it rained. |
Tips
- Identify the possessor (owner) and determine the correct base form (mein-, dein-, sein-, etc.).
- Determine the gender, number, and case of the noun being described.
- Add the appropriate ending to the possessive pronoun based on the noun.
- Use standalone forms without a noun if the context is clear (e.g., Das ist meiner — “That is mine”).
When can you use a possessive pronoun without a noun following it?
When the context makes the meaning clear (standalone forms).
German allows standalone possessive pronouns (e.g., "Das ist meiner") when the meaning is understood.
Summary
German possessive pronouns indicate ownership and agree with the noun’s gender, number, and case—not the owner. They are formed by adding endings to a base pronoun (mein-, dein-, sein-, etc.). Use them confidently to show who something belongs to—in any grammatical situation.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- English: My car is red.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
