How to Say "yours" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “yours” is “tuyo” — use this informal, singular pronoun when referring to something that belongs to 'you' (tú) in a casual context..
tuyo
/TOO-yoh//ˈtu.ʝo/
Examples
Este lápiz no es mío, es tuyo.
This pencil isn't mine, it's yours.
¿De quién es esta mochila? ¿Es tuya?
Whose backpack is this? Is it yours?
Lo mío es tuyo, amigo.
What's mine is yours, friend.
Stands Alone to Mean 'Yours'
Use 'tuyo' to replace a noun you've already mentioned. Instead of saying 'Es tu libro' (It's your book), you can just say 'Es tuyo' (It's yours).
Matches the *Thing*, Not the Person
The ending of 'tuyo' changes to match the gender and number of the item that is owned, not the person who owns it. For example: el libro es tuyo (the book is yours), la casa es tuya (the house is yours), los zapatos son tuyos (the shoes are yours).
Mixing up `tuyo` and `tu`
Mistake: “El coche es tu.”
Correction: The correct way is 'El coche es tuyo.' Use 'tu' *before* a noun ('tu coche'), and 'tuyo' when it stands alone after a verb like 'ser'.
suyo
/soo-yoh//ˈsu.ʝo/
Examples
Mi coche es rojo, pero el suyo es negro.
My car is red, but his/hers/yours (formal) is black.
¿Es esta chaqueta tuya o es la suya?
Is this jacket yours, or is it theirs?
Nuestra casa es más antigua que la suya.
Our house is older than theirs.
Un amigo suyo me llamó anoche.
A friend of his/hers/theirs called me last night.
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'.
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'.
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.
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.)
vuestro
/vwes-tro//bwestɾo/
Examples
Mi perro es grande, pero el vuestro es pequeño.
My dog is big, but yours (the one belonging to you all) is small.
¿Es esta chaqueta la vuestra o la nuestra?
Is this jacket yours or ours?
The Necessary Article
When 'vuestro' acts as a pronoun (replacing the noun), it almost always needs a definite article (el, la, los, las) in front of it to tell you what object it refers to: 'el vuestro' or 'la vuestra'.
No Jargon: Replacement Word
Think of it as a substitution tool. Instead of saying 'Your car is newer than our car,' you say 'Vuestro coche es más nuevo que el nuestro' (ours).
Forgetting the Article
Mistake: “Este libro es vuestro. (Incorrect when meaning 'This book is yours')”
Correction: This is almost always correct only if you mean 'This is your book.' If you mean 'This book belongs to you all,' say 'Este libro es el vuestro.'
Formal vs. Informal 'You'
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