Possessive adjectives in Spanish are critical but can be tricky, especially if you’re coming from English. These adjectives change based on who owns something and how many things they own. They help show who something belongs to and can also highlight different emotions or relationships. Knowing when to use each type helps you speak more clearly and correctly in Spanish.
What are Possessive Adjectives in Spanish?
Possessive adjectives in Spanish show who owns something or has a connection to it. These words are essential in Spanish. There are two kinds: short and long. Short ones go before the noun they discuss, and long ones come after. We use the long ones to make it clear who something belongs to.
Short form adjectives
Understanding how to use short-form possessive adjectives in Spanish is key to showing who owns what. These adjectives are simple words like ‘mi’ for ‘my’, ‘tu’ for ‘your’, and ‘su’ for ‘his, her, its, their’. They come before the noun they’re talking about.
Singular Short Form Possessive Adjectives
| English | Spanish (Masculine) | Spanish (Feminine) | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
| My | mi | mi | Mi libro | My book |
| Your (informal) | tu | tu | Tu casa | Your house |
| His, Her, Its, Your (formal) | su | su | Su coche | His/her/your car |
| Our | nuestro | nuestra | Nuestro jardín | Our garden |
| Your (plural informal, Spain) | vuestro | vuestra | Vuestro perro | Your dog |
| Their, Your (plural formal) | su | su | Su problema | Their problem |
Plural Short Form Possessive Adjectives
| English | Spanish (Masculine) | Spanish (Feminine) | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
| My | mis | mis | Mis zapatos | My shoes |
| Your (informal) | tus | tus | Tus libros | Your books |
| His, Her, Its, Your (formal) | sus | sus | Sus llaves | Their keys |
| Our | nuestros | nuestras | Nuestras casas | Our houses |
| Your (plural informal, Spain) | vuestros | vuestras | Vuestras bicicletas | Your bicycles |
| Their, Your (plural formal) | sus | sus | Sus amigos | Their friends |
Long-form adjectives
Long-form possessive adjectives in Spanish, like ‘mío,’ ‘tuyo,’ and ‘nuestro,’ come after the noun they describe. They clarify who owns something by matching the noun’s gender and number.
| Possessive Adjective | Meaning | Example Usage | Translation |
| Mío(a)(s) | Mine | El libro es mío | The book is mine |
| Las casas son mías | The houses are mine | ||
| Tuyo(a)(s) | Yours (informal) | La bicicleta es tuya | The bicycle is yours |
| Los jardines son tuyos | The gardens are yours | ||
| Suyo(a)(s) | His, hers, yours (formal), theirs | El bolso es suyo | The purse is hers |
| Los documentos son suyos | The documents are yours | ||
| Nuestro(a)(s) | Ours | El problema es nuestro | The problem is ours |
| Las ideas son nuestras | The ideas are ours | ||
| Vuestro(a)(s) | Yours (plural, informal in Spain) | La decisión es vuestra | The decision is yours |
| Las responsabilidades son vuestras | The responsibilities are yours |
How to Use Possessive Adjectives in Spanish
Possessive adjectives in Spanish change depending on whether the noun they describe is singular or plural. They must match the noun. Also, in some situations, like talking about body parts or personal items like clothes, Spanish speakers usually don’t use possessive adjectives because it’s obvious who they belong to.
Singular and plural forms
When using Spanish possessive adjectives, it’s essential to match them correctly with the number of items you’re talking about. If it’s just one item, use the singular forms. If there are several, go for the plural forms. This rule works no matter the gender of the noun. However, words like ‘nuestro’ and ‘nuestra’ change to fit the number and the gender of the noun they describe.
Confusion with “su” and “sus”
Understanding how to use ‘su’ and ‘sus’ in Spanish can be tricky because they can mean many things: ‘his,’ ‘her,’ ‘its,’ ‘your’ (formal), or ‘their.’ Here’s how it works: use ‘su’ before a single noun and ‘sus’ before a plural noun. Gender doesn’t affect them. For example, ‘su libro’ could refer to ‘his book,’ ‘her book,’ ‘your book,’ or ‘their book.’ On the other hand, ‘sus libros’ might be talking about ‘his books,’ ‘her books,’ ‘your books,’ or ‘their books.’
Understanding “Su” and “Sus”
| Possessive Adjective | Meaning | Example (Spanish) | Translation (English) |
| Su | His | Su libro | His book |
| Her | Su libro | Her book | |
| Its | Su libro | Its book | |
| Your (formal) | Su libro | Your (formal) book | |
| Sus | Their | Sus libros | Their books |
| Your (plural, formal) | Sus libros | Your (plural, formal) books |
Practice Sentences
| Example (Spanish) | Clarified Phrase (Spanish) | Translation (English) |
| Su casa es grande. | La casa de él/ella/usted es grande. | His/Her/Your (formal) house is big. |
| Sus hijos están en la escuela. | Los hijos de ellos/ellas/ustedes están en la escuela. | Their/Your (plural, formal) children are at school. |
| ¿Es su teléfono? | ¿Es el teléfono de él/ella/usted? | Is it his/her/your (formal) phone? |
| Sus gatos son adorables. | Los gatos de ellos/ellas/ustedes son adorables. | Their/Your (plural, formal) cats are adorable. |
Exceptions to using possessive adjectives
In Spanish, you don’t always use possessive adjectives like ‘my’ or ‘your’ to show who something belongs to. For example, when talking about body parts or clothes with verbs like ‘tener’ (to have) or ‘llevar’ (to wear), it’s more common to use the definite article – ‘the’ (‘la’, ‘el’, ‘los’, ‘las’). This way, it’s already clear who the owner is without saying it directly.
Exceptions to Using Possessive Adjectives in Spanish
| Context | Usage | Spanish Example | English Translation |
| Body Parts | Use definite articles | Me duele la cabeza. | My head hurts. |
| Se cortó el dedo. | He/She cut his/her finger. | ||
| Clothing | Use definite articles | Me pongo la chaqueta. | I put on my jacket. |
| Ponte los zapatos. | Put on your shoes. | ||
| Personal Items | Use definite articles | Perdí las llaves. | I lost my keys. |
| No encuentro el teléfono. | I can’t find my phone. |
Practice Sentences
| Spanish Sentence | English Translation |
| Me lavé las manos antes de comer. | I washed my hands before eating. |
| Se puso la chaqueta porque hacía frío. | He/She put on the jacket because it was cold. |
| No puedo encontrar las llaves. | I can’t find my keys. |
| Me duele el estómago después de comer. | My stomach hurts after eating. |
| Él se cortó el cabello ayer. | He cut his hair yesterday. |
Conclusion
Knowing Spanish possessive adjectives well is key for clear and effective communication. It’s important to match these adjectives in number and gender with the nouns they refer to, making your sentences clearer and more coherent. Also, knowing when not to use possessive adjectives shows off your language skills. So, regular practice and using these rules in different speaking and writing situations will help you speak Spanish more fluently and understand it better.
