Inklingo

How to Say "own" in Spanish

English → Spanish

propio

/pro-pyo//ˈpɾo.pjo/

AdjectiveA2
Use 'propio' when you want to emphasize that something belongs to a person or is characteristic of them, similar to 'one's own'.
A small child happily hugging a unique, bright red toy cube, emphasizing that it is theirs.

Examples

Tengo mi propio coche, así que no necesito el tuyo.

I have my own car, so I don't need yours.

Ella quiere vivir en su propia casa.

She wants to live in her own house.

Cada estudiante tiene sus propios libros.

Each student has their own books.

Making it Match

'Propio' changes to match the thing it describes. If the word is feminine, use 'propia'. If it's plural, add an 's': 'propio' (masculine), 'propia' (feminine), 'propios' (masculine plural), 'propias' (feminine plural).

Where It Goes

To mean 'own', 'propio' usually comes after a word like 'mi', 'tu', or 'su' (my, your, his/her) and before the noun. For example: 'mi propio cuarto' (my own room).

'Own' vs. 'Alone'

Mistake: “Quiero mi coche solo.”

Correction: Quiero mi propio coche. Saying 'mi coche solo' can sound like you want 'only my car' or 'my car by itself'.

personal

/per-so-NAL//peɾso'nal/

AdjectiveA2
Use 'personal' to describe something that belongs to a specific person, especially in the context of opinions, matters, or belongings that are private or individual.
A small, brightly colored private diary with a lock and key, emphasizing personal ownership and privacy.

Examples

Esta es mi opinión personal.

This is my personal opinion.

Por favor, no toques mis cosas personales.

Please, don't touch my personal things.

Necesito un día de asuntos personales para ir al médico.

I need a personal day to go to the doctor.

Matching the Noun

As an adjective, 'personal' changes its ending to match the thing it's describing. For plural things, add an '-es': asuntos personales (personal matters).

Forgetting the Plural

Mistake: “Tengo dos problema personal.”

Correction: Tengo dos problemas personales. Because 'problemas' is plural, the adjective describing it also needs to be plural.

Propio vs. Personal

The most common mistake is using 'personal' when 'propio' is needed for 'one's own' possession. Remember, 'propio' emphasizes belonging exclusively to someone, while 'personal' often refers to something individual or private, like an opinion or a matter.

Related Translations

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