A simple diagram showing a hand on the left pointing to a book being held by a person on the right, indicating that the book belongs to that other person.

su

/soo/

Possessive AdjectiveA1

his?belonging to a male,her?belonging to a female,its?belonging to an object or concept,your?formal 'you' (usted),their?belonging to a group of people

📝 In Action

Es su coche.

It's his car. / It's her car. / It's their car.

María busca su llave.

María is looking for her key.

Señor, ¿es su maleta?

Sir, is this your suitcase?

Son sus libros.

They are their books. / They are his books.

La casa tiene su propio jardín.

The house has its own garden.

Related Words

Common Collocations

a su lado – by his/her/their side
en su opinión – in his/her/their opinion
por su cuenta – on his/her/their own
a su debido tiempo – in due time

💡 Grammar Points

One Word, Many Meanings

'Su' is a super-useful word that can mean 'his,' 'her,' 'its,' 'your' (formal), or 'their.' You figure out which one it is from the context of the conversation.

Making it Plural: 'sus'

If the thing being owned is plural (like 'books'), you add an 's' to make it 'sus.' For example, 'su libro' (his book) becomes 'sus libros' (his books).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Plural 's'

Mistake: "Es su zapatos."

Correction: Son sus zapatos. If the *thing* is plural (zapatos), you must use 'sus,' even if the owner is just one person.

Mixing Up 'su' and 'tu'

Mistake: "Señor, ¿es tu coche?"

Correction: Señor, ¿es su coche? Use 'su' when talking to someone formally ('usted'), and 'tu' when talking to someone informally ('tú').

⭐ Usage Tips

How to Avoid Confusion

Since 'su' can be confusing, speakers often clarify by adding 'de él' (of him), 'de ella' (of her), or 'de ellos' (of them). For example: 'Es su libro... el libro de él.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: su

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is correct for 'They are her shoes'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mi(my) - adjective

tu(your (informal)) - adjective

nuestro/a(our) - adjective

vuestro/a(your (plural, informal)) - adjective

suyo/a(his/hers/yours/theirs (used after the noun)) - adjective/pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'su' means 'his', 'her', 'their', or 'your'?

You have to rely on context! The sentence or conversation around 'su' will tell you who the owner is. If it's still unclear, a native speaker might add 'de él' (of him), 'de ella' (of her), or 'de ellos' (of them) after the noun to be more specific, like 'Es la casa de ella' (It's her house).

What's the difference between 'su' and 'suyo'?

'Su' always comes before the noun (e.g., 'su casa'). 'Suyo' usually comes after the noun or stands alone (e.g., 'la casa suya' or 'el coche es suyo'). Think of 'su' as 'his/her' and 'suyo' as 'of his/hers'.

When do I use 'su' vs. 'tu' for 'your'?

It depends on who you're talking to. Use 'tu' (informal) with friends, family, and people your age. Use 'su' (formal) with strangers, older people, or in professional settings when you would use 'usted'.