A1 Spanish GrammarPossessive Adjectives
Express ownership in Spanish with possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su, nuestro, vuestro). Learn the short forms that go before nouns and how they agree in number and sometimes gender.
1Short Form Possessives (Before Nouns)
Spanish possessive adjectives come before the noun. The short forms (mi, tu, su) only agree in number (singular/plural). Nuestro and vuestro also agree in gender. These are the most common forms.
Possessive Adjectives
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| yo | mi | mis |
| tú | tu | tus |
| él/ella/usted | su | sus |
| nosotros | nuestro/a | nuestros/as |
| vosotros | vuestro/a | vuestros/as |
| ellos/ustedes | su | sus |
Examples
Mi casa es pequeña.
My house is small.
mi - singular noun
Mis padres viven en Madrid.
My parents live in Madrid.
mis - plural noun
¿Dónde está tu coche?
Where is your car?
tu - informal 'your'
Tus amigos son simpáticos.
Your friends are nice.
tus - plural
2Su/Sus (His, Her, Your, Their)
Su and sus can mean his, her, its, your (formal), or their. Context usually makes the meaning clear. For clarity, you can use de + pronoun/name: el libro de él (his book).
Su/Sus Meanings
| Spanish | Possible Meanings |
|---|---|
| su libro | his/her/your(formal)/their book |
| sus libros | his/her/your(formal)/their books |
| el libro de él | his book (clarified) |
| el libro de ella | her book (clarified) |
| el libro de usted | your book (clarified) |
| el libro de ellos | their book (clarified) |
Examples
MarÃa y su hermano.
MarÃa and her brother.
su = her (clear from context)
¿Cuál es su nombre?
What is your name? (formal)
su = your (usted)
Es el coche de ella.
It's her car.
de ella for clarity
Sus hijos son estudiantes.
Their children are students.
sus = their (plural noun)
3Nuestro/Vuestro (Gender Agreement)
Unlike mi/tu/su, nuestro and vuestro agree in both gender AND number. Use nuestro/nuestros with masculine nouns and nuestra/nuestras with feminine. Same pattern for vuestro.
Nuestro/Vuestro Forms
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | nuestro | nuestra |
| Plural | nuestros | nuestras |
| Singular | vuestro | vuestra |
| Plural | vuestros | vuestras |
Examples
Nuestra casa es grande.
Our house is big.
nuestra - fem. singular
Nuestro profesor es español.
Our teacher is Spanish.
nuestro - masc. singular
Nuestros amigos llegan mañana.
Our friends arrive tomorrow.
nuestros - masc. plural
¿Dónde están vuestras llaves?
Where are your keys? (Spain)
vuestras - fem. plural
4Possessives vs. Articles
Spanish often uses articles instead of possessives with body parts and clothing when the owner is clear. Also, possessives are never used with hay (there is/are). Context determines usage.
Article vs. Possessive
| Spanish | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Me lavo las manos | I wash my hands | article, not 'mis' |
| Me duele la cabeza | My head hurts | article, not 'mi' |
| Llevo el abrigo | I'm wearing my coat | article, not 'mi' |
| Tengo mi libro | I have my book | possessive OK here |
Examples
Me cepillo los dientes.
I brush my teeth.
los, not mis (reflexive context)
Se pone el sombrero.
He puts on his hat.
el, not su (reflexive context)
¿Tienes tu pasaporte?
Do you have your passport?
possessive for emphasis
Este es mi café.
This is my coffee.
possessive for ownership