su
/su/
The Spanish word for "your (formal)" is su.
su is a possessive adjective used to refer to something belonging to a person or people being addressed formally.
Which one should you use?
If the objects being possessed are plural, the form changes to sus. Note that because su is also used to mean "his", "her" or "their", it can sometimes cause ambiguity in Spanish sentences.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form su is gender-neutral. It does not change whether the possessed object is masculine or feminine. However, the form must change to sus if the possessed objects are plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/su/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, using su or usted instead of 'tu' can create a social distance that feels cold or even unfriendly in casual settings.
- The word su is a direct descendant of the Latin word suum.
- The ambiguity of su is a frequent source of humor in Spanish literature and sitcoms, where characters misinterpret 'your house' as 'his house'.
Examples in context
- Su perro es muy grande.Your dog is very big.
- ¿Cuál es su dirección?What is your address?
- Espero que su viaje sea bueno.I hope your trip is good.
Example conversation
Daniel is helping Maria at a hotel check-in desk.
- Daniel¿Cuál es su nombre?What is your name?
- MaríaMi nombre es María.My name is María.
- DanielGracias. Ahora necesito su pasaporte.Thank you. Now I need your passport.
- MaríaAquí tiene.Here it is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry su, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries su, CC BY-SA 4.0.
