In Spanish, we use special words called possessive adjectives to show who owns something or who is related to whom.

When we talk about family members, it’s very important to use the right possessive adjective with each family word.

Let’s see how to do this correctly!

What Are Possessive Adjectives?

Possessive adjectives are words that tell us about ownership.

In Spanish, these words change a bit based on whether they are about a boy or a girl and how many people we are talking about.

Here are the main possessive adjectives in Spanish:

• mi (my)
• tu (your - when talking to someone you know well)
• su (his/her/its/your - when talking formally)
• nuestro/a (our)
• vuestro/a (your - when talking to a group in Spain)
• su (their/your - formal)

Just remember, “nuestro” and “vuestro” can change to match whether the noun is masculine or feminine.

Family Words to Know

Before we talk about using possessive adjectives with family members, let’s look at some family words:

• madre (mother)
• padre (father)
• hermano (brother)
• hermana (sister)

How to Combine Possessive Adjectives with Family Members

Now let’s learn how to use possessive adjectives with these family words.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

1. Mi (my)

   • Mi madre (my mother)
   • Mi padre (my father)
   • Mi hermano (my brother)
   • Mi hermana (my sister)

2. Tu (your - informal)

   • Tu madre (your mother)
   • Tu padre (your father)
   • Tu hermano (your brother)
   • Tu hermana (your sister)

3. Su (his/her/its/your - formal)

   • Su madre (his/her mother or your mother)
   • Su padre (his/her father or your father)
   • Su hermano (his/her brother or your brother)
   • Su hermana (his/her sister or your sister)

4. Nuestro/a (our)

   • Nuestra madre (our mother) [feminine]
   • Nuestro padre (our father) [masculine]
   • Nuestro hermano (our brother) [masculine]
   • Nuestra hermana (our sister) [feminine]

5. Vuestro/a (your - plural informal in Spain)

   • Vuestra madre (your mother)
   • Vuestro padre (your father)
   • Vuestro hermano (your brother)
   • Vuestra hermana (your sister)

6. Su (their/your - formal)

   • Su madre (their mother or your mother)
   • Su padre (their father or your father)
   • Su hermano (their brother or your brother)
   • Su hermana (their sister or your sister)

Example Sentences

Let’s make some sentences using these possessive adjectives:

• Mi madre es alta. (My mother is tall.)
• Tu padre trabaja mucho. (Your father works a lot.)
• Su hermano juega al fútbol. (His brother plays soccer.)
• Nuestra hermana es simpática. (Our sister is nice.)
• Vuestra madre cocina bien. (Your mother cooks well.)
• Sus padres son alegres. (Their parents are cheerful.)

Matching Gender and Number

When you use possessive adjectives, they must match the noun in gender (boy or girl) and number (singular or plural).

• For a single feminine noun (like madre), use “mi,” “tu,” “su,” “nuestra,” or “vuestra.”
• For a single masculine noun (like padre), use “mi,” “tu,” “su,” “nuestro,” or “vuestro.”
• If you talk about multiple family members, like hermanos (brothers), use “nuestros” or “nuestras” based on gender.

Conclusion

Using possessive adjectives with family words in Spanish helps you explain relationships clearly.

Practice making sentences with different possessive adjectives and family words to improve your skills.

Once you understand this, you'll be able to communicate better in Spanish!