Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| ihr | |
| ihre | /ˈʔiːʁə/ |
The word is a possessive determiner used to show that something belongs to a group of people (them).
Which one should you use?
While ihr is the base form, the form of the word changes depending on the noun being possessed. In the nominative case, use ihr for masculine or neuter nouns and ihre for feminine or plural nouns. Note that ihr can also mean "her" or the formal "your" depending on the context and whether it is capitalized.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the nominative case, the form matches the gender and number of the noun that follows it. Use ihr when the following noun is masculine or neuter. Use ihre when the following noun is feminine or plural.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When using this word, remember that the ending must match the gender and case of the noun being possessed, rather than the people who own the object.
Did you know?
- The word ihr is a homonym in German, meaning it can serve as a possessive for 'their' or as a personal pronoun meaning 'you all'.
- The German word ihr is a distant relative of the archaic English word 'ye'. Both evolved from the same ancient Proto-Germanic root used to address a group of people.
Examples in context
- Es ist ihr Recht.It's their right.This sentence demonstrates the use of ihr to indicate a right belonging to them.Tatoeba #2533025 by brauchinet, translation #2249313 by CK
- Ich mag ihr Haus.I like their house.This sentence shows how ihr is used with a neuter noun like house.Tatoeba #7448263 by Yorwba, translation #1766651 by CK
- Er ist ihr Vater.He's their father.This sentence uses ihr to describe a relationship involving them.Tatoeba #8479918 by Luiaard, translation #8694898 by shekitten
- 1935 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are looking at a house next door.
- JuliaIst das ihr Haus?Is that their house?
- JulianJa, es ist ihr Haus.Yes, it is their house.
- JuliaSie sind sehr freundlich.They are very friendly.
- JulianJa, ich mag sie.Yes, I like them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “their” translations and entries ihr, ihre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ihr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
