Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun and show ownership or possession. In both Spanish and English, they agree in meaning with the thing being owned, but Spanish pronouns also agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).
| English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| mine | mine | mío / mía | míos / mías |
| yours (familiar) | yours | tuyo / tuya | tuyos / tuyas |
| his / hers / yours (formal) | his / hers / yours | suyo / suya | suyos / suyas |
| ours | ours | nuestro / nuestra | nuestros / nuestras |
| yours (plural) | yours | vuestro / vuestra | vuestros / vuestras |
| theirs | theirs | suyo / suya | suyos / suyas |
- mío / mía / míos / mías — mine
- tuyo / tuya / tuyos / tuyas — yours (informal singular)
- suyo / suya / suyos / suyas — his, hers, yours (formal singular), theirs
- nuestro / nuestra / nuestros / nuestras — ours
- vuestro / vuestra / vuestros / vuestras — yours (informal plural in Spain)
Usage
- Must be preceded by a definite article (el, la, los, las).
- Must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
- Used when the noun has already been mentioned or is understood from context.
When are possessive pronouns used in Spanish?
when the noun has already been mentioned or is understood from context
Possessive pronouns replace nouns that have already been mentioned or are understood from context, avoiding repetition.
Examples
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Esta casa es mía. | This house is mine. |
| Estos libros son tuyos. | These books are yours. |
| La guitarra es suya. | The guitar is his/hers/yours. |
| Las llaves son nuestras. | The keys are ours. |
| Los coches son vuestros. | The cars are yours (plural). |
| Las mochilas son suyas. | The backpacks are theirs. |
Note on "suyo"
- Because suyo (and its forms) can mean his, hers, yours (formal), or theirs, context is necessary to understand the meaning.
- To avoid confusion, you can clarify:
- el libro de él (his book)
- el libro de ella (her book)
- el libro de usted (your book - formal)
- el libro de ellos/ellas (their book)
Summary
- Possessive pronouns replace nouns to indicate ownership.
- They always follow a definite article.
- They agree in gender and number with the noun.
- Context or clarification is needed for suyo.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- English Singular: mine
- English Plural: mine
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
