Spanish Possessives: A Simple Guide to Mi, Tu, Su & Nuestro

Why do English speakers get tangled up with Spanish words for 'my', 'your', and 'his/her'? In English, these words are simple: 'my book', 'my books'—the word 'my' never changes. Spanish thinks differently. In Spanish, these little words, called possessive adjectives, must 'agree' with the item being owned. Think of it like this: Spanish possessive adjectives are like chameleons. They change their form to match the noun that follows them. If the noun is plural (like 'books'), the possessive adjective must also become plural. This is the single biggest difference from English, and once you get it, everything clicks into place. This guide will break down the four main possessive adjectives: 'mi' (my), 'tu' (your), 'su' (his/her/your/their), and 'nuestro' (our). We'll use simple examples and clear rules. After reading, you'll be able to confidently talk about what belongs to you and others in Spanish.

Comparison

Rules of Thumb

• Rule 1: The possessive must match the noun in number (singular or plural). This is the golden rule. Think 'one thing, singular form; many things, plural form.'

• Rule 2: To make 'mi', 'tu', or 'su' plural, just add an 's'. This is a simple and consistent change: `mi` becomes `mis`, `tu` becomes `tus`, and `su` becomes `sus`.

• Rule 3: 'Nuestro' is the only one that changes for gender. You must use `nuestro` for masculine nouns and `nuestra` for feminine nouns.

• Rule 4: 'Su' is a multitasker; it can mean 'his,' 'her,' 'your' (formal), or 'their.' You must use context to know who the owner is. If it's unclear, Spanish speakers often rephrase for clarity, like 'el libro de él' (the book of his).

• Rule 5: Don't confuse 'tu' (your) with 'tú' (you). The one without the accent mark (`tu`) shows possession, while the one with the accent mark (`tú`) is the subject pronoun 'you'.

Examples

Common Mistakes

• *Mi zapatos son nuevos. — Mis zapatos son nuevos. — The mistake is forgetting to make the possessive plural. Because 'zapatos' (shoes) is plural, 'mi' must change to 'mis' to match it.

• *Es la casa de Juan. Es sua casa. — Es la casa de Juan. Es su casa. — This mistake comes from thinking the possessive should match the owner's gender. 'Su' does not change for gender; it only changes for number ('su' vs. 'sus'). It stays 'su' whether it means 'his' or 'her'.

• ¿Dónde está tú mochila? — ¿Dónde está tu mochila? — The words 'tú' and 'tu' are different. 'Tú' with an accent means 'you' (the person). 'Tu' without an accent means 'your' (the possessive). Here, you need 'your'.

• *Nuestro familia vive en la ciudad. — Nuestra familia vive en la ciudad. — The word 'familia' is feminine in Spanish. 'Nuestro' must match the gender of the noun it describes, so it must change to the feminine form 'nuestra'.

Practice