Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| el suyo | /el suʝo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| los suyos | /los suʝos/ (from spelling rules) | masculine, plural |
| la suya | /la suʝa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| las suyas | /las suʝas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
The forms of suyo are used as possessive pronouns to mean 'hers', but they can also mean 'his', 'theirs' or 'yours (formal)'. Because of this ambiguity, you may need to rely on context or add a clarifying phrase such as de ella to specify that you mean 'hers'. Additionally, using the definite article (el, la, los, las) before these forms is a way to emphasize possession.
Which one should you use?
Spanish uses different forms depending on whether the object being possessed is masculine or feminine, and whether there is one object or many. Use su or sus as adjectives placed before a noun (for example, su libro), but use the pronoun forms like el suyo or la suya to replace the noun entirely.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the possessive pronoun must agree in gender and number with the object being possessed, rather than with the person who owns it.
How do you pronounce it?
/el suʝo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish speaking countries, the plural form los suyos is used as a noun to refer to a person's close family members or inner circle.
- The word suyo was not originally a standalone root but was formed by modifying the adjective su to mimic the pattern of the word mío, meaning 'mine'.
- Because el suyo is so ambiguous, Spanish speakers frequently use physical gestures or point to the person they are referring to to distinguish 'hers' from 'his' or 'theirs'.
Examples in context
- ¿Ésta es tu bolsa o la suya?Is this your sack or hers?This sentence is useful for comparing two different objects using the feminine form la suya.Tatoeba #521942 by Shishir, translation #669955 by Zifre
- Sus opiniones difieren de las suyas.His opinions differ from hers.This sentence shows how to use the feminine plural form las suyas to refer to opinions.Tatoeba #9453299 by eltacodemex, translation #8614468 by Amastan
- Nuestros problemas no son nada comparado a los suyos.Our problems are nothing compared to hers.This sentence demonstrates the use of the masculine plural form los suyos to refer to problems.Tatoeba #1717441 by marcelostockle, translation #247687 by CH
- El libro es suyo.The book is hers.
- La casa es suya.The house is hers.
- Los perros son suyos.The dogs are hers.
- Las gafas son las suyas.The glasses are hers.
- El reloj de ella es caro.Her watch is expensive.
- El coche es suyo.The car is hers.
- La guitarra de ella es genial.Her guitar is awesome.
- El peluche de ella es su favorito.Her stuffed toy is her favorite.
- Los libros son suyos.The books are his/hers.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are tidying up a shared office.
- LucíaMateo, ¿este bolígrafo es tuyo?Mateo, is this pen yours?
- MateoNo, creo que es el suyo.No, I think it is hers.
- LucíaEntonces se lo dejaré en la mesa.Then I will leave it on the table for her.
- MateoSí, así ella encontrará el suyo.Yes, that way she will find hers.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hers” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, la, las, los, suyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
