Possessive pronouns in Italian are used to replace a noun and indicate ownership or belonging, answering the question “Whose is it?”
Forms:
They must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they replace, not with the owner.
| Persona (Person) | Singolare maschile (masculine singular) | Singolare femminile (feminine singular) | Plurale maschile (masculine plural) | Plurale femminile (feminine plural) |
| io (I) | il mio mine | la mia | i miei | le mie |
| tu (you) | il tuo yours | la tua | i tuoi | le tue |
| lui/lei (he/she) | il suo his/hers/its | la sua | i suoi | le sue |
| noi (we) | il nostro ours | la nostra | i nostri | le nostre |
| voi (you) | il vostro yours | la vostra | i vostri | le vostre |
| loro (they) | il loro theirs | la loro | i loro | le loro |
Key Rule: They are almost always used with the definite article (il, la, i, le).
- “Questa macchina è la mia.” (This car is mine.)
- “I miei libri sono nuovi; i tuoi sono vecchi.” (My books are new; yours are old.)
- “La nostra casa è grande, e la loro è piccola.” (Our house is big, and theirs is small.)
The difference between possessive pronouns and possessive adjectives
| Feature | Possessive Adjective | Possessive Pronoun |
| Function | Modifies a noun (is always followed by the noun it describes). | Replaces a noun (the noun is omitted because it’s understood from context). |
| Translation | my, your, his, her, our, their | mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs |
| Article | Usually no article (except with singular family members) | Almost always requires the definite article. |
| Example | “Mia sorella è qui.” (My sister is here.) “Ho perso il mio cellulare.” (I lost my phone.) | “Questa sorella è la mia.” (This sister is mine.) “Ho perso il mio.” (I lost mine.) |
Simple Test: If you can add the word “own” after the possessive in English (“my own car”), it’s likely an adjective. If you can replace it with a phrase like “that which belongs to me,” it’s a pronoun.
Possessive pronouns used as nouns
1. Indicating money, property, or belongings
Refers generally to one’s financial resources, possessions, or “stuff.”
- Metterò dei miei. (I’ll chip in some of my own money.)
- Lascia perdere i suoi! (Forget about his things/his property!)
- Gestiscono i loro in comune. (They manage their assets jointly.)
2. Indicating parents or family
Almost exclusively used for family members, especially parents. Very common and idiomatic.
- Domenica vado dai miei. (On Sunday, I’m going to my parents’ house / to see my folks.)
- I tuoi sono molto gentili. (Your parents are very kind.)
- Ha telefonato uno dei suoi? (Did one of his relatives call?)
3.Indicating friends, companions, or a group (e.g., soldiers, team)
Refers to one’s group, team, or people one belongs to.
- Esco con i miei stasera. (I’m going out with my friends/my crew tonight.)
- Il capitano difese i suoi fino alla fine. (The captain defended his men until the end.)
- Siamo andati in gita con i nostri. (We went on a trip with our classmates/our group.)
4. Indicating an opinion, idea oe “two cents”
Used to present one’s personal viewpoint.
- Ha espresso il suo. (He expressed his opinion.)
- Aggiungo anche il mio. (I’ll add my two cents as well.)
- Ognuno ha detto la sua. (Everyone said their piece.)
5. Indicating a letter or written correspondence
A classic, fixed usage.
- In risposta alla tua del 2 febbraio…; (In response to yours of February 2…;)
- Ho ricevuto una tua ieri. (I received a letter from you yesterday.)
- Le scriverò una mia presto. (I will write a letter of mine to her soon.)
6. Indicating mischief, nonsense, or “tricks”
Often used with “fare” (to do) or “combinare” (to cook up).
- Quei bambini combinano sempre dei loro. (Those kids are always up to some mischief of theirs.)
- Ne ha fatta una delle sue! (He made one of his own!)
- Ne hai detta/fatta una delle tue! (You said/did one of your own!)
- Smettila con le tue! (Stop with your nonsense/your antics!)
7. Indicating ‘cheers’ in toasts or greetings.
A standard, friendly formula for toasting.
- Alla tua! (Cheers to you!)
- Beviamo alle nostre! (Let’s drink to us!)
8 .Indicating a part, role, or position
Means “one’s part,” “one’s role,” or “one’s place.”
- Sono tutti dalla mia. (They’re all on my side.)
- Ognuno faccia il suo. (Everyone should do their part/their job.)
- È tornato al suo. (He went back to his place [e.g., at the table] / to his post.)
9. In the expression [stare sulle sue (to keep to oneself)].
“Stare sulle sue” means to keep to oneself, to be reserved, to not open up, to mind one’s own business.
- Da quando è arrivato, sta sempre sulle sue. (Since he arrived, he always keeps to himself.)
- Meglio stare sulle sue in quell’ufficio. (It’s better to mind your own business in that office.)
Next lesson:
I pronomi dimostrativi / Demonstrative pronouns.