Understanding Possessive Articles in German
In German, possessive articles (also called possessive determiners) are used to show ownership or possession, just like in English:
- my book
- your car
- his dog
But in German, these possessive words must match the gender, case, and number of the noun they describe.
List of German Possessive Articles
Here are the basic possessive articles in German:
| English | Masculine/Neuter | Feminine/Plural |
| my | mein | meine |
| your (informal, singular) | dein | deine |
| his | sein | seine |
| her | ihr | ihre |
| its | sein | seine |
| our | unser | unsere |
| your (plural/informal) | euer | eure |
| their | ihr | ihre |
| your (formal) | Ihr | Ihre |
How Possessive Articles Work with Gender and Case
In German, nouns have genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter. On top of that, German has four grammatical cases:
- Nominative – for the subject of a sentence
- Accusative – for the direct object
- Dative – for the indirect object
- Genitive – for showing possession
Possessive articles change their form depending on the gender and case of the noun they are describing.
Possessive Articles in the Nominative Case
The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence.
| Gender | Article (my) | Example |
| Masculine | mein | Mein Hund ist süß. (My dog is cute.) |
| Feminine | meine | Meine Katze schläft. (My cat is sleeping.) |
| Neuter | mein | Mein Auto ist neu. (My car is new.) |
| Plural | meine | Meine Bücher sind interessant. (My books are interesting.) |
Possessive Articles in the Accusative Case
The accusative case is used for the direct object of a sentence.
| Gender | Article (my) | Example |
| Masculine | meinen | Ich sehe meinen Hund. (I see my dog.) |
| Feminine | meine | Ich mag meine Katze. (I like my cat.) |
| Neuter | mein | Ich fahre mein Auto. (I drive my car.) |
| Plural | meine | Ich lese meine Bücher. (I read my books.) |
Possessive Articles in the Dative Case
The dative case is used for the indirect object.
| Gender | Article (my) | Example |
| Masculine | meinem | Ich gebe meinem Bruder ein Buch. (I give my brother a book.) |
| Feminine | meiner | Ich helfe meiner Mutter. (I help my mother.) |
| Neuter | meinem | Ich zeige meinem Kind das Spiel. (I show my child the game.) |
| Plural | meinen + -n | Ich erzähle meinen Freunden eine Geschichte. (I tell my friends a story.) |
Possessive Articles in the Genitive Case
The genitive case shows possession, like “of my…”.
| Gender | Article (my) | Example |
| Masculine | meines + -s | Das ist das Haus meines Vaters. (That is my father’s house.) |
| Feminine | meiner | Das ist das Auto meiner Mutter. (That is my mother’s car.) |
| Neuter | meines + -s | Die Farbe meines Autos ist blau. (The color of my car is blue.) |
| Plural | meiner | Die Bücher meiner Freunde sind neu. (My friends’ books are new.) |
Euer → Eure: Special Note
When “euer” (your – plural) is used before a noun, the -e is often added and the middle -e- is dropped:
- euer Haus (your house – neuter)
- eure Katze (your cat – feminine)
- euren Hund (your dog – accusative masculine)
So it adjusts like this:
- euer → eure, euren, eurem, eurer, etc.
Tips to Remember
- Match the gender and case of the noun, not the possessor.
- Think in phrases, not individual words (e.g., “meinem Bruder” instead of just “mein”).
- For plural dative, always add an “-n” at the end of the noun if it doesn’t already have it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using “mein” for everything. It needs to change depending on case and gender.
- Forgetting to add “-n” in plural dative (e.g., “meinen Freunden” not “meinen Freunde”).
- Not changing “euer” correctly to “eure” or “euren” where needed.
Practice Sentences
- Das ist mein Buch. (That is my book.)
- Ich liebe meine Familie. (I love my family.)
- Er hilft seinem Freund. (He helps his friend.)
- Wir besuchen unsere Großeltern. (We visit our grandparents.)
- Ich habe den Hund meiner Schwester gesehen. (I saw my sister’s dog.)
Why Mastering Possessive Articles Matters
Learning how to use possessive articles correctly makes your German sound more natural and clear. It helps you speak about yourself, your family, your belongings, and other people’s things—these are essential parts of daily conversation. Without mastering these, your sentences can become confusing or grammatically wrong.
Conclusion
German possessive articles might seem tricky at first because they change based on gender, case, and number. But once you get the hang of them, they become second nature. Practice using them in full sentences, and you’ll be one step closer to speaking German like a native. Remember: always match the article to the noun it’s describing—not to who owns it!
FAQs
What’s the difference between “mein” and “meine”?
“Mein” is used with masculine or neuter nouns, while “meine” is used with feminine or plural nouns.
Why does “mein” become “meinen” in some sentences?
It becomes “meinen” when the noun is masculine and in the accusative case.
Is “ihr” the same for ‘her’, ‘their’, and ‘your (formal)’?
Yes, but they’re capitalized differently. “Ihr” (formal you), “ihr” (her/their) — context matters.
How do I know which case to use?
Start by identifying if the noun is the subject (nominative), direct object (accusative), indirect object (dative), or showing possession (genitive).
Are possessive articles used differently in questions?
No, the grammar stays the same. Example: “Ist das dein Auto?” (Is that your car?)
