mío
“mío” means “mine” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
mine
📝 In Action
Este bolígrafo no es tuyo, es mío.
A1This pen isn't yours, it's mine.
¿De quién es esta chaqueta? Es mía.
A1Whose jacket is this? It's mine.
Sus ideas son buenas, pero las mías son mejores.
A2Her ideas are good, but mine are better.
of mine
Also: my
📝 In Action
Un amigo mío vive en Barcelona.
A2A friend of mine lives in Barcelona.
¡Dios mío! ¡Qué susto!
A2My God! What a scare!
Ven aquí, amor mío.
B1Come here, my love.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "mío" in Spanish:
my→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mío
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'This is my house'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'meus', which also meant 'my' or 'mine'. Over time, Spanish developed two forms from this one root: 'mi' for use before a noun, and 'mío' for use after a noun or on its own.
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mi' and 'mío'?
Think of it this way: 'mi' is short and always goes *before* the thing you own ('mi coche' - my car). 'Mío' is longer and goes *after* ('un amigo mío' - a friend of mine) or stands completely on its own to mean 'mine' ('el coche es mío' - the car is mine).
Why does it sometimes change to 'mía', 'míos', or 'mías'?
In Spanish, words that show ownership have to match the thing that is owned, not the owner. So you use 'mío' for a single masculine thing (el libro es mío), 'mía' for a single feminine thing (la casa es mía), 'míos' for multiple masculine things (los libros son míos), and 'mías' for multiple feminine things (las casas son mías).
When would I say 'amigo mío' instead of 'mi amigo'?
'Mi amigo' just means 'my friend'. 'Amigo mío' can feel a bit more affectionate or personal, like when you're addressing them directly ('¡Hola, amigo mío!'). It's also the required structure when you say 'a friend of mine' ('un amigo mío').