How to Say "my" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “my” is “mi” — use 'mi' before a singular noun when indicating that something belongs to you. It does not change for gender..
mi
/mee//mi/
Examples
Este es mi coche.
This is my car.
Esta es mi casa.
This is my house.
¿Has visto mis llaves nuevas?
Have you seen my new keys?
Mi color favorito es el azul.
My favorite color is blue.
Showing Something is Yours
Use 'mi' right before a noun (a person, place, or thing) to show that it belongs to you. For example, 'mi libro' means 'my book'.
One Thing vs. Many Things
If you are talking about one thing, use 'mi' (mi coche). If you are talking about more than one thing, add an 's' and use 'mis' (mis coches).
Forgetting the 's' for Plurals
Mistake: “Me gustan mi zapatos.”
Correction: Me gustan mis zapatos. Because 'zapatos' (shoes) is plural, you need to use the plural form 'mis'.
Confusing with 'mí' (me)
Mistake: “Este regalo es para mi.”
Correction: Este regalo es para mí. 'Mi' means 'my'. If you want to say 'me', you need the version with the accent: 'mí'. See the next tab for details!
mis
/mees//mis/
Examples
Tengo dos hermanos y tres hermanas.
I have two brothers and three sisters.
Estos son mis libros.
These are my books.
¿Dónde están mis llaves?
Where are my keys?
Mis amigos son muy simpáticos.
My friends are very nice.
One Thing vs. Many Things
Use 'mi' for one thing ('mi perro' - my dog) and 'mis' for more than one thing ('mis perros' - my dogs). The number of things you own decides which word you use.
Always Stays the Same
'Mis' doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. It's 'mis coches' (my cars) and also 'mis casas' (my houses).
Using 'Mi' for Plural Things
Mistake: “Me gustan mucho mi zapatos.”
Correction: Say 'Me gustan mucho mis zapatos.' If the noun is plural ('zapatos'), you need the plural form 'mis'.
mío
/mee-oh//ˈmi.o/
Examples
Ese libro no es tuyo, es mío.
That book is not yours, it's mine.
Un amigo mío vive en Barcelona.
A friend of mine lives in Barcelona.
¡Dios mío! ¡Qué susto!
My God! What a scare!
Ven aquí, amor mío.
Come here, my love.
Goes *After* the Thing You're Talking About
Unlike 'mi' (which goes before), 'mío' is placed after the noun it describes. This is very common when you say 'a...' or 'one...' of your things, like 'un libro mío' (a book of mine).
A More Personal or Emphatic Touch
Placing 'mío' after the noun can sound more personal or add emphasis. It's often used when speaking to someone directly, like 'hijo mío' (my son) or 'amiga mía' (my friend).
Putting 'mío' Before the Noun
Mistake: “Un mío amigo me llamó.”
Correction: Un amigo mío me llamó. If you use 'un' or 'una' (a/an), the possessive word ('mío', 'tuyo', etc.) must come after the noun.
mía
/MEE-ah//'mi.a/
Examples
Ella es una amiga mía.
She is a friend of mine.
Una amiga mía viene a cenar.
A friend of mine is coming to dinner.
La culpa no es mía.
The fault is not mine.
Esa idea mía fue la mejor de todas.
That idea of mine was the best of all.
Placement Matters: After the Noun
Unlike 'mi' (which goes before), 'mía' always comes after the feminine thing you're talking about. This often adds a little more emphasis or a personal touch.
Always Agrees with the Noun
'Mía' is used for feminine, singular things. For a masculine thing, you'd say 'mío'. For plural things, you'd say 'mías' (feminine) or 'míos' (masculine).
Mixing up 'mi' and 'mía'
Mistake: “Es mía casa.”
Correction: Use 'mi' *before* a noun: 'Es mi casa.' Use 'mía' *after* the noun or on its own: 'La casa es mía.'
Mi/Mis vs. Mío/Mía
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