suyo
“suyo” means “his” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
his, hers
Also: yours, theirs
📝 In Action
Mi coche es rojo, pero el suyo es negro.
A2My car is red, but his/hers/yours (formal) is black.
¿Es esta chaqueta tuya o es la suya?
B1Is this jacket yours, or is it theirs?
Nuestra casa es más antigua que la suya.
B1Our house is older than theirs.
his, hers
Also: yours, their
📝 In Action
Un amigo suyo me llamó anoche.
B1A friend of his/hers/theirs called me last night.
Ella trajo una propuesta suya muy interesante.
B2She brought a very interesting proposal of hers.
No es culpa nuestra, es un error suyo.
B1It's not our fault, it's a mistake of yours (formal).
his/her people, his/her belongings
Also: his/her lot
📝 In Action
Ella siempre cuida de los suyos.
B2She always takes care of her own people (family/friends).
Cuando terminamos lo nuestro, cada uno tomó lo suyo y se fue.
C1When we finished our part, everyone took what was theirs and left.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: suyo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'suyo' to refer to a book belonging to a woman?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the vulgar Latin word *sūum* (meaning 'his own' or 'their own'), a simplification of classical Latin possessives.
First recorded: Old Spanish texts (c. 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'su' and 'suyo'?
'Su' (short form) always goes before the noun (Su casa - His house). 'Suyo' (long form) usually replaces the noun (La suya - The one that is his) or follows the noun (Una casa suya - A house of his). The long form also makes the sentence sound slightly more formal or emphatic.
Why does 'suyo' have four forms?
Like many Spanish describing words, 'suyo' changes to match the gender (masculine/feminine) and quantity (singular/plural) of the item being owned. The forms are: suyo, suya, suyos, and suyas.