Spanish Possessive Adjectives: Mi, Tu, Su, and More
In English, “my,” “your,” and “our” never change. In Spanish, they agree with the noun that follows, so mi hermano and mis hermanos are different. Once you see that the owner does not matter and only the thing owned does, possessives become simple.
Quick answer
- Possessives go before the noun: mi casa, tu libro, su familia
- They match the thing owned, not the owner: mis amigos (my friends), nuestra casa (our house)
- Su can mean his, her, your (formal), or their: su coche (his, her, their, or your car)
The possessive adjectives
Use these short forms before a noun. Only nuestro and vuestro change for masculine and feminine. The rest only change for singular and plural.
| Owner | Singular noun | Plural noun |
|---|---|---|
| my | mi libro, mi casa | mis libros, mis casas |
| your (tú) | tu libro, tu casa | tus libros, tus casas |
| his, her, your (usted), their | su libro, su casa | sus libros, sus casas |
| our | nuestro libro, nuestra casa | nuestros libros, nuestras casas |
| your (vosotros, Spain) | vuestro libro, vuestra casa | vuestros libros, vuestras casas |
Examples
- Mi madre trabaja en un hospital.My mother works in a hospital.Mi with a singular noun.
- Tus amigos son muy simpáticos.Your friends are very nice.Tus with a plural noun.
- Nuestra casa es pequeña.Our house is small.Nuestra matches casa, which is feminine.
- Nuestros hijos estudian aquí.Our children study here.Nuestros matches hijos.
Su can mean four things
Su and sus can mean his, her, its, their, or your (when you address someone as usted). The context usually tells you which one. When it is not clear, add de él, de ella, de ellos, or de usted after the noun.
Examples
- Ana vive con su madre.Ana lives with her mother.Su means “her.”
- Juan y Luis llaman a sus abuelos.Juan and Luis call their grandparents.Sus means “their.”
- Señora López, ¿dónde está su pasaporte?Mrs. López, where is your passport?Su means “your” with usted.
- Es la casa de ella, no la casa de él.It is her house, not his house.De ella clears up the meaning.
Possessives with family and body parts
With people you love, the possessive is natural: mi mamá, mis papás. Be careful with body parts, though. Spanish usually says me duele la cabeza (the head hurts me) or me lavo las manos (I wash the hands), not “my head” or “my hands.” See the lesson on reflexive verbs for more.
Examples
- Mis papás viven en Guadalajara.My parents live in Guadalajara.“Papás” is common for parents in Mexico.
- Me lavo las manos.I wash my hands.The article las, not mis.
- Me duele la cabeza.My head hurts.No possessive.
Long forms: mío, tuyo, suyo
Spanish also has long possessives that come after the noun or stand alone: mío, tuyo, suyo, nuestro. You hear them in phrases like un amigo mío (a friend of mine) and Esto es mío (this is mine). They also change for gender and number: mía, míos, mías.
Examples
- Este libro es mío.This book is mine.Mío agrees with libro.
- Esa bolsa es mía.That bag is mine.Mía agrees with bolsa.
- Un amigo mío vive en Madrid.A friend of mine lives in Madrid.After the noun.
Spanish around the world
- In Latin America, vuestro is almost never used. People say su or de ustedes instead. You will see vuestro mostly in Spain.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Mi amigos son simpáticos.
Correct: Mis amigos son simpáticos.
The noun is plural, so use mis.
Incorrect: Nuestro casa es grande.
Correct: Nuestra casa es grande.
Casa is feminine, so use nuestra.
Incorrect: Yo lavo mis manos.
Correct: Me lavo las manos.
With body parts Spanish uses the article, not the possessive.
Incorrect: Tú libro está aquí.
Correct: Tu libro está aquí.
The possessive tu has no accent. Tú with an accent means “you.”
Remember the rule
- A possessive matches the thing owned: mi casa, mis casas.
- Nuestro also changes for gender: nuestro libro, nuestra casa.
- Su can mean his, her, their, or your. Add de él or de ella when it is unclear.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it tu and not tú?
Tu without an accent is the possessive “your.” Tú with an accent is the pronoun “you.” They are different words.
How do I say ‘his’ and ‘her’ in Spanish?
Both are su (or sus for plural nouns). Add de él or de ella to clarify.
Do possessives agree with the owner?
No. They agree with the thing owned. “Mi casa” stays the same whether the owner is a man or a woman.
Do I need a possessive with family members?
Usually yes: mi hermano, mi tía. Spanish is a bit more natural with the possessive than English is.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Possessives appear in almost every sentence about family and things. Try a short, free session.
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