Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dein | /daɪ̯n/ | |
| Ihr | /ʔiːɐ̯/ | formal |
The phrase is used to indicate that something belongs to the person being spoken to.
Which one should you use?
dein is used when speaking to one person in an informal setting, such as a friend, family member or child. Ihr is used when speaking to one or more people in a formal setting, such as a stranger, a boss or a person of authority.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dein is the singular informal form. Ihr is the formal form used for both singular and plural address.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the noun it precedes. For example, if using the informal form, it becomes deine if the noun is feminine or plural and deinen if the noun is masculine and is the direct object of the sentence. For the formal form, Ihr changes to Ihrem in the dative case for masculine or neuter nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/daɪ̯n/
What mistakes should you avoid?
In written German, be careful not to confuse the formal Ihr (your) with the lowercase ihr, which means "her" or "their".
Did you know?
- Historically, the formal Ihr was used to address multiple people, which is why it remains plural in its grammar even when addressing one person.
- In some traditional German regions, people use a 'half-formal' approach where they use the formal Ihr but combine it with a first name.
- The English word 'thy' is a direct relative of the German dein, as both descended from the same ancient Germanic roots.
Examples in context
- Wo ist Ihr Hut?Where's your hat?This sentence is useful for asking where someone's hat is using the formal Ihr.Tatoeba #7451660 by Yorwba, translation #2254683 by CK
- Wo ist Ihr Haus?Where is your house?This sentence is useful for asking where someone's house is using the formal Ihr.Tatoeba #1391364 by Dejo, translation #370706 by saeb
- Wo ist Ihr Geld?Where's your money?This sentence is useful for asking where someone's money is using the formal Ihr.Tatoeba #2262533 by Zaghawa, translation #1579451 by fanty
- Dein Buch ist interessant.Your book is interesting.
- Euer Haus ist schön.Your house is beautiful.
- Ihr Haus ist wunderschön.Your house is stunning.
- Ihre Bücher sind interessant.Your books are intriguing.
- Ihr Kaffee schmeckt gut.Your coffee tastes good.
- 14634 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian is returning a lost item to Sarah at a cafe.
- SarahIst das dein Buch?Is that your book?
- MaximilianJa, das ist mein Buch. Danke!Yes, that is my book. Thanks!
- SarahGerne. Es lag auf dem Tisch.You're welcome. It was on the table.
- MaximilianDu bist sehr nett, Sarah.You are very kind, Sarah.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “your” translations and entries dein, Ihr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dein, ihr, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
