Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on whether you are speaking to one person or multiple people, and whether the noun is masculine or feminine. For a single person (informal), use tuyo for masculine nouns and tuya for feminine nouns. For multiple people in an informal setting (specifically in Spain), use vuestro for masculine nouns and vuestra for feminine nouns.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, when addressing multiple people informally, use vuestro (masculine) or vuestra (feminine). In most Latin American countries, the formal version of 'yours' is suyo.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of 'yours' must agree in gender and number with the noun it replaces or refers to. The available forms include tuyo (masculine singular), tuya (feminine singular), tuyos (masculine plural) and tuyas (feminine plural). For the plural informal forms used in Spain, use vuestros (masculine) and vuestras (feminine). The formal forms also vary: suyo (masculine singular), suya (feminine singular), suyos (masculine plural) and suyas (feminine plural).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtuʝo/
Did you know?
- The word tuyo is a linguistic 'imitation' of the word cuyo, which means 'whose'. While cuyo has a clear Roman ancestor, tuyo was shaped over time to sound more like its relative.
- If you use the formal suyo to mean 'yours', you might accidentally say 'his' or 'hers'. Because suyo is also the third-person possessive, the context of the sentence is the only thing preventing confusion.
- In much of Latin America, using vuestro to mean 'yours' can sound strangely archaic or like a character from a period drama. Most people will instinctively reach for su or suyo instead.
Examples in context
- ¿Es mío o tuyo?Is it mine or yours?This sentence is useful for asking if an object belongs to me or to you.Tatoeba #10091034 by manufrutos, translation #10090431 by ddnktr
- El tuyo es peor.Yours is worse.This sentence is useful for making a comparison between two things.Tatoeba #2620311 by teskmon, translation #2255473 by CK
- Esto no es tuyo.This isn't yours.This sentence is useful for stating that an object does not belong to you.Tatoeba #6601745 by arh, translation #2233763 by CK
- La bicicleta es tuya.The bicycle is yours.
- Las ideas son tuyas.The ideas are yours.
- El perro es suyo.The dog is yours.
- Las pertenencias son suyas.The belongings are yours.
- El coche es vuestro.The car is yours.
- Las habitaciones son vuestras.The rooms are yours.
- 152 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are looking for their phones on a table.
- María¿Este teléfono es tuyo, Mateo?Is this phone yours, Mateo?
- MateoNo, ese no es el mío.No, that one is not mine.
- MaríaEntonces, ¿cuál es el tuyo?Then, which one is yours?
- MateoEstá en mi mochila.It is in my backpack.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tuyo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tuyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
