suyo
/soo-yoh/
his
This image shows an object belonging to him, representing the possessive pronoun 'suyo' (his).
suyo(Pronoun)
his
?The thing belonging to him
,hers
?The thing belonging to her
yours
?The thing belonging to usted (formal singular)
,theirs
?The thing belonging to them
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Possessive Pronouns Replace Nouns
A possessive pronoun like 'suyo' replaces a person or thing that has already been mentioned, telling you who owns it. It always uses the article (el, la, los, las) before it.
Matches the Owned Item
'Suyo' must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the thing being owned, not the owner.
The Ambiguity of 'Suyo'
'Suyo' can mean his, hers, yours (formal), its, or theirs. If the meaning is unclear from the context, Spanish speakers often clarify by saying 'de él', 'de ella', or 'de usted'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Article
Mistake: "Este libro es suyo. (No article)"
Correction: Este libro es el suyo. (Correct usage with 'el'.) The article is essential when 'suyo' acts as a stand-alone pronoun.
⭐ Usage Tips
Clarifying Ambiguity
To specifically say 'theirs', you can use 'el de ellos' instead of 'el suyo' to avoid any confusion.
The friendship between the two children illustrates the possessive adjective 'suyo' (his), as in 'a friend of his.'
suyo(Adjective)
his
?as in, a friend of his
,hers
?as in, an idea of hers
yours
?as in, a problem of yours (formal)
,their
?as in, a relative of theirs
📝 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).
💡 Grammar Points
Placed After the Noun
When 'suyo' is used as an adjective, it is placed after the noun it describes (e.g., 'el coche suyo'). This contrasts with the shorter possessive forms ('su coche').
Long Possessive Forms
This 'long' form (mío, tuyo, suyo, etc.) is less common than the short form ('mi, tu, su') but is often used after 'un' or 'una' to mean 'a [thing] of mine/yours/his'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Overusing the Long Form
Mistake: "La casa suya es bonita."
Correction: Su casa es bonita. (Use the shorter form 'su' before the noun for general descriptions and higher frequency.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Emphasis
Using the long form after the noun adds a little emphasis or formality to the possession.
This image of a central figure surrounded by supportive community members visualizes the noun 'los suyos' (his/her people or followers).
suyo(Noun)
his/her people
?family or followers (los suyos)
,his/her belongings
?possessions (lo suyo)
his/her lot
?what is properly theirs
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The Meaning of 'Los Suyos'
When you see 'los suyos' (masculine plural) it almost always refers to a person's family, close friends, or followers.
The Meaning of 'Lo Suyo'
When you see 'lo suyo' (neuter singular), it refers to abstract concepts: what is proper or typical for that person, or their possessions in general.
⭐ Usage Tips
Referring to Specific Tasks
'Poner de su parte' or 'hacer lo suyo' means to do one's duty or contribute their share to a joint effort.
✏️ 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
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.