Published on December 10, 2024
All you need to know about Italian possessive pronouns
What’s mine is yours! Possessive pronouns in Italian express ownership, replacing the noun or noun phrase to which they refer. Italian possessive pronouns follow the same grammatical logic as those in English, but they differ in one important way: they have masculine, feminine, plural and singular forms, and which you use depends on the gender and number of the noun that’s being possessed.
To help you avoid awkward mistakes and sound natural and precise when communicating in Italian, the following guide will simplify the rules that govern these all-important possessive particles.
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What are the possessive pronouns in Italian?
Italian possessive pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases and convey ownership or possession. They eliminate the need to repeat the noun associated with the possessed object or the personal relation, thus making sentences more concise and elegant.
Italian possessive pronouns chart
| English | Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine plural |
| mine | il mio | la mia | i miei | le mie |
| yours | il tuo | la tua | i tuoi | le tue |
| his/hers | il suo | la sua | i suoi | le sue |
| ours | il nostro | la nostra | i nostri | le nostre |
| yours | il vostro | la vostra | i vostri | le vostre |
| theirs | il loro | la loro | i loro | le loro |
- Questo libro è mio. (This book is mine.)
- Quella casa è mia. (That house is mine.)
- Gli occhiali sono miei. (The glasses are mine.)
- Le scarpe sono mie. (These shoes are mine.)
- Quel cane è loro. (This dog is theirs.)
- Quella matita è sua. (That pencil is hers.)
How to use Italian possessive pronouns
Agreement in gender and number
In Italian, possessive pronouns must agree in gender and number with the object possessed, rather than with the possessor. This means that the form of the pronoun changes to match the noun it replaces, regardless of whether the owner is masculine or feminine.
- La macchina è sua. (The car is his/hers.)
In the above example, macchina is feminine singular, so the possessive pronoun sua agrees with it, even though the owner may be masculine.
- I libri sono suoi. (The books are his/hers.)
In the above example, the noun libri is masculine and plural, so the correct possessive pronoun is suoi.
Differences between possessive adjectives and pronouns
Possessive adjectives modify a noun and are used alongside it, whereas possessive pronouns replace the noun entirely. You can determine which is being used by examining whether the noun is explicitly stated (adjective) or implied (pronoun).
- Possessive adjective: Questa è la mia macchina. (This is my car.)
- Possessive pronoun: Questa è mia. (This is mine.)
- Possessive adjective: Questi sono i suoi libri. (These are his/her books.)
- Possessive pronoun: Questi sono suoi. (These are his/hers.)
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Misalignment between pronoun and possessed item
A common mistake in Italian is mismatching the possessive pronoun with the gender and number of the possessed object. To avoid it, remember to always focus on the noun the possessive pronoun is replacing, rather than the person who owns or possesses it. It helps to double-check the gender and number of the noun you replace, to ensure the agreement.
Three shades of ‘yours’
In Italian, there are three ways to express possession in the second person. Which you use depends on the level of formality and the number of people you’re addressing:
- Tuo is informal and singular: Questo è il tuo libro. (This is your book.)
- Vostro is plural: Ragazzi, questa è la vostra casa. (Guys, this is your house.)
- Suo is formal: È il suo biglietto, signore? (Is this your ticket, sir?)
How to use ‘his’ and ‘hers’ correctly
In Italian, the possessive pronouns suo/sua/suoi/sue do not clarify the gender of the possessor. To clarify whether these pronouns refer to a man or woman, context or additional information is often necessary.
La sua macchina could mean “his car” or “her car” depending on the context. If you need to clarify, you might instead specify la macchina di lui (his car) or la macchina di lei (her car).
Tips on how to practice possessive pronouns
Listening to Italian music is a fun way to practice. Italo disco, pop and swing music are genres where you can find Italian artists singing in relatively simple language. “La mia città” by Emma uses a few possessive pronouns in context. Pay attention to lyrics for repeated uses of pronouns!
You can also use printable worksheets to practice with targeted exercises on possessive pronouns. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the rule of agreement in gender and number.
One of the latest additions to Lingoda’s offerings are Lingobites. These are your post-class companions, perfect for bridging the gap between theory and practice when learning Italian. They’re excellent for reinforcing pronoun usage in real-world contexts through fill-in-the-gap quizzes or dialogue-based questions.
You can also use tools like Quizlet to create custom flashcards focusing on possessive pronouns and their variations. These can make memorization interactive and engaging.
FAQs
What are the seven possessive pronouns in Italian?
The seven possessive pronouns are: il mio, il tuo, il suo, il nostro, il vostro and il loro. Remember: these are the masculine singular forms, and they may change depending on the gender and number of the noun.
When should I use ‘il mio’ or ‘mio’ in Italian?
Use il mio when it replaces the noun entirely (Il mio è qui – Mine is here). Use mio as an adjective before a noun (Questo è mio fratello – This is my brother).
What’s the difference between ‘il loro’ and ‘i loro’?
Il loro (singular) refers to one possessed item (il loro libro – their book), while i loro (plural) refers to multiple items (i loro libri – their books).
Learning language your own way.
In conclusion, Italian possessive pronouns are vital for efficient communication. We’ve seen how to make these pronouns agree in gender and number with the possessed noun or noun phrase, and we’ve shared tips to help you avoid the usual mistakes.Handy resources like songs, apps and practice tools can help you master Italian possessive pronouns. But if you’re serious about your language-learning journey, Lingoda is the solution for you. With our interactive classes and native-level teachers, you can start speaking confidently from Day One and build fluency at your own pace!
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