mi
/mi/
The Spanish word for "my" is mi.
mi is a possessive adjective used to indicate that something belongs to me.
Meaning: belonging to me (det)
Which one should you use?
mi is used with singular nouns, whereas mí is a stressed prepositional pronoun meaning "me" used after prepositions such as para (for).
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive adjective must agree in number with the noun it modifies. While mi is used for singular nouns, you should use mis when referring to plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not add an accent mark to mi when you mean "my". The possessive adjective does not have an accent.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, it is often considered redundant or overly emphatic to say mi when referring to body parts. Instead of saying 'my hand', speakers usually use the definite article la to say 'the hand'.
- The word mi is a homonym for the third note of the musical scale in solfège. In music theory, mi refers to the note E.
- Because mi comes from the Latin meus eliding before a vowel, it carries a hidden history of linguistic shortcutting that is not visible in the modern spelling.
Examples in context
- Él es mi tío.He is my uncle.This sentence shows how to use mi to identify a relative.Tatoeba #1249591 by Shishir, translation #297898 by CK
- Tom es mi ex.Tom is my ex.This sentence demonstrates the use of mi with a person's status.Tatoeba #2343136 by hayastan, translation #2273303 by CK
- No es mi tipo.This is not my type.This sentence shows how to use mi to describe a preference.Tatoeba #2868 by Shishir, translation #1702 by Swift
- Mi casa es grande.My house is big.
- Mis amigos son simpáticos.My friends are nice.
- Mis libros son interesantes.My books are interesting.
- Mi mamá es cariñosa.My mom is affectionate.
- Mi perro es juguetón.My dog is playful.
- Mis hermanos son deportistas.My siblings are athletic.
- Mis gatos son traviesos.My cats are mischievous.
- 12802 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are in a coffee shop.
- Sofía¿Es mi café?Is it my coffee?
- MateoNo, es mi café.No, it is my coffee.
- Sofía¡Ay! Lo siento, Mateo.Oh! I am sorry, Mateo.
- MateoNo te preocupes, Sofía.Don't worry, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my” translations and entries mi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
