German grammar: Possessivpronomen

What this grammar point covers

Possessivpronomen in German are words that show who owns or possesses something, like 'my', 'your', or 'their' in English.

When to use it

Use possessive pronouns in German to show ownership or relationships. They replace the article and are used before nouns: to say things like 'my book', 'your house', or 'our friends'.

Key forms

• mein (my), dein (your, informal), sein (his/its), ihr (her/their), unser (our), euer (your, plural informal), Ihr (your, formal)
• The ending of the word changes depending on the gender, case, and number: mein Vater, meine Mutter, mein Kind, meine Freunde.

Examples

Tips

• Pay attention to the ending of the possessive pronoun: it must match the gender, number, and case of the noun.
• Do not use an article with the possessive pronoun (say 'mein Buch', not 'das mein Buch').
• Remember that 'ihr' can mean 'her', 'their', or the formal 'your', depending on the context.

Exceptions and edge cases

• The possessive pronoun 'euer' loses the 'e' before endings: 'euer Buch', but 'eure Freundin'.