Which one should you use?
The form you choose depends entirely on the noun that follows it. Use میرا for masculine singular nouns, میری for all feminine nouns (both singular and plural) and میرے for masculine plural nouns or when showing respect to a singular masculine noun.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Urdu, the possessive form must agree with the gender and number of the object being possessed, rather than the gender of the speaker. Use میرا (merā) when the possessed object is a masculine singular noun. Use میری (merī) when the possessed object is a feminine noun, regardless of whether it is singular or plural. Use میرے (mere) when the possessed object is a masculine plural noun or when you are referring to a single masculine noun in a respectful manner.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /meː.ɾɑː/ (merā).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use میرا for all objects. Remember that the form must change to agree with the gender and number of the object you are talking about, not your own gender.
Did you know?
- The word میرا is a cognate of the Romani word miro, meaning 'my'.
- Using میرا instead of میرے when referring to a respected elder can be perceived as a social blunder or a sign of rudeness.
- Because the word 'my' changes based on the object, a person might use three different versions of the same word in a single sentence.
Examples in context
- میرا نام علی ہے۔My name is Ali.This sentence is useful for introducing yourself using میرا.Tatoeba #1481152 by nabeel_tahir, translation #9940292 by Dhoru
- میرا سر پھٹ رہا ہے۔My head is exploding.This sentence uses میرا to describe a physical sensation.Tatoeba #1505849 by nabeel_tahir, translation #1124833 by CM
- تم میرا دجسٹر لے جانا۔I'll lend you my notebook.This sentence uses میرا to identify an object being lent.Tatoeba #1465749 by nabeel_tahir, translation #17470 by CK
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ali and Zainab are looking for a lost item in the living room.
- زینب Zainabکیا تم نے میرا قلم دیکھا ہے؟kyā tum ne merā qalam dekhā hai?Have you seen my pen?
- علی Aliنہیں زینب، مجھے نہیں معلوم۔nahīñ Zainab, mujhe nahīñ malūm.No Zainab, I don't know.
- زینب Zainabمیرا قلم ادھر ہی کہیں ہونا چاہیے۔merā qalam idhar hī kahīñ honā chāhiye.My pen must be around here somewhere.
- علی Aliشاید یہ میز کے نیچے ہے۔shāyad yeh mez ke neechay hai.Maybe it is under the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my” translations and entries میرا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries میرا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
