sus
/soos/
📝 In Action
Ellos aman a sus perros.
A1They love their dogs.
Sus ojos son azules.
A1His/Her eyes are blue.
Profesora, ¿podemos usar sus lápices?
A2Teacher, can we use your pencils?
La gata cuida a sus gatitos.
A2The cat takes care of its kittens.
💡 Grammar Points
It's About the Items, Not the Owner
Use 'sus' when the things being owned are plural (more than one). For just one thing, use 'su'. Compare: 'su libro' (one book) vs. 'sus libros' (many books).
Who's the Owner?
'Sus' can mean 'his', 'her', 'its', 'their', or 'your' (for a group). You figure out who the owner is from the rest of the conversation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Up 'Su' and 'Sus'
Mistake: "Él tiene su libros."
Correction: Say 'Él tiene sus libros.' The word must match the number of *items*, not the number of owners. Since 'libros' (books) is plural, you must use 'sus'.
⭐ Usage Tips
How to Be Clear
Because 'sus' can be vague, speakers often add 'de él' (of him), 'de ella' (of her), or 'de ellos' (of them) to avoid confusion. For example: 'Son sus llaves de ella' makes it clear they are her keys.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sus
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'sus' and 'su'?
It's all about how many things are being owned. Use 'su' for one thing ('su casa' - their house) and 'sus' for more than one thing ('sus casas' - their houses). It doesn't matter if one person or many people are the owners.
How do I know if 'sus' means 'his', 'her', or 'their'?
You have to use clues from the conversation. If you were just talking about Ana, 'sus llaves' means 'her keys'. If you were talking about the players, 'sus uniformes' means 'their uniforms'. If it's still unclear, speakers add phrases like 'de él' (of him) or 'de ellos' (of them) to be specific.