How to Use Possessive Pronouns in Spanish: A Simple Guide for Beginners
Learning Spanish can feel overwhelming at times, but some grammar points are easier than they look—like possessive pronouns. If you’ve ever said “This is mine” or “That book is hers” in English, you’ve already used them. Spanish has its own version, and once you learn the patterns, it becomes second nature.
What Are Possessive Pronouns?
Possessive pronouns replace a noun to show ownership. Instead of saying mi casa (“my house”), you can say la casa es mía (“the house is mine”).
In English:
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This car is mine.
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That pen is hers.
In Spanish:
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Este coche es mío.
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Esa pluma es suya.
The Spanish Possessive Pronouns
Here are the main forms:
| English | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Mine | mío / mía | míos / mías |
| Yours (informal) | tuyo / tuya | tuyos / tuyas |
| His / Hers / Yours (formal) | suyo / suya | suyos / suyas |
| Ours | nuestro / nuestra | nuestros / nuestras |
| Yours (plural, Spain) | vuestro / vuestra | vuestros / vuestras |
| Theirs | suyo / suya | suyos / suyas |
Agreement with Gender and Number
Unlike English, Spanish pronouns must agree with the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
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El libro es mío. → The book is mine. (masculine, singular)
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Las casas son nuestras. → The houses are ours. (feminine, plural)
Using Definite Articles with Pronouns
Spanish usually requires the definite article (el, la, los, las) before possessive pronouns.
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La idea es suya. → The idea is hers.
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Los zapatos son míos. → The shoes are mine.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Forgetting the article: Don’t say zapatos son míos—say los zapatos son míos.
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Confusing suyo: It can mean his, hers, theirs, or yours (formal). Use context to clarify.
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Mixing possessive adjectives and pronouns: mi libro (my book) vs. el libro es mío (the book is mine).
Practice Sentences
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¿Es este perro tuyo? → Is this dog yours?
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Sí, pero la pelota es suya. → Yes, but the ball is his/hers.
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El coche rojo es nuestro. → The red car is ours.
Final Thoughts
Spanish possessive pronouns may look intimidating at first, but they follow a clear pattern. Once you remember to match gender and number, and add the definite article, you’ll sound much more natural in conversations.