suyos
/SOO-yohs/
theirs
Depicting ownership of multiple items belonging to a group of people, illustrating "theirs" (suyos).
suyos(pronoun)
theirs
?referring to masculine plural items
,his
?referring to masculine plural items
,hers
?referring to masculine plural items
yours
?formal plural (ustedes) or singular formal (usted), referring to masculine plural items
📝 In Action
Mis libros están aquí. ¿Dónde están los suyos?
A2My books are here. Where are yours (or his/hers/theirs)?
Estos perros son suyos, ¿verdad?
B1These dogs are theirs, right?
No toques esos bolígrafos; son los suyos del jefe.
B2Don't touch those pens; they are the boss's (his) ones.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the Object
The ending ('-os') must match the thing being owned (the books, the dogs), not the owner. Since 'suyos' ends in '-os', it means the things being possessed are masculine and plural.
Ambiguity Warning
This word is highly ambiguous! It can mean 'his,' 'hers,' 'its,' 'theirs,' or 'yours' (formal). Use context or clarify with 'de él,' 'de ella,' etc., if confusion is likely.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Owner and the Object
Mistake: "La casa es suyos. (If the owner is a woman)"
Correction: La casa es suya. ('Suyo' must match 'casa' (feminine singular), not the female owner.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Article
When 'suyos' functions as a standalone pronoun (replacing the noun), it almost always needs the definite article 'los' in front of it (e.g., 'los suyos').
Showing emphasis on singular male ownership, meaning "his own" (suyos).
suyos(adjective)
his own
?used after the noun for emphasis
,their own
?used after the noun for emphasis
belonging to them/him/her
?emphasizing ownership
📝 In Action
Los hijos suyos son muy educados.
B1Their (or his/her) own children are very well-behaved. (Slightly formal or emphatic)
Necesitamos revisar los documentos suyos antes de firmar.
B2We need to review his/her/their documents before signing.
💡 Grammar Points
Position Matters
When used as an adjective, 'suyos' usually comes after the noun (e.g., 'los coches suyos'). If it comes before the noun (e.g., 'sus coches'), it shortens to 'sus' and loses emphasis.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Tone
Using 'suyos' (or any form of 'suyo') after the noun is often reserved for legal documents, literature, or very formal speech.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: suyos
Question 1 of 2
If you are talking about three masculine toys belonging to Maria, which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'suyos' means 'his' or 'theirs'?
You usually need to rely on the surrounding context. If the context doesn't make it clear, you can replace 'suyos' with the clarifying phrase: 'los de él' (his), 'los de ella' (hers), or 'los de ellos' (theirs).
What is the difference between 'sus' and 'suyos'?
'Sus' is the short form used *before* a noun (e.g., 'sus libros' = his books). 'Suyos' is the long form used *after* the noun for emphasis (e.g., 'los libros suyos') or as a standalone pronoun (e.g., 'los suyos' = the ones belonging to him/her/them).