How Italian Adjectives Work
Italian Possessive Adjectives 🇮🇹
Possessive adjectives help you say my, your, his, her, our, their in Italian — and they work a little differently than in English.
In Italian, possessive adjectives change based on the noun,
not the person who owns it.
Singular Possessive Adjectives
| Meaning | Masculine | Feminine | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| My | mio | mia | il mio libro / la mia casa |
| Your | tuo | tua | il tuo telefono / la tua borsa |
| His / Her | suo | sua | il suo lavoro / la sua macchina |
| Our | nostro | nostra | il nostro hotel / la nostra cucina |
Where to Place Possessives
In Italian, possessive adjectives usually come after the definite article
(il, la, i, le).
il mio cane → my dog
la tua sedia → your chair
il mio cane → my dog
la tua sedia → your chair
His / Her in Italian
Italian does not distinguish between “his” and “her”.
la sua casa can mean:
la sua casa can mean:
- his house
- her house
Everyday Examples
Il mio amico arriva tardi.
My friend arrives late.
Ho dimenticato la tua giacca.
I forgot your jacket.
La nostra idea è semplice.
Our idea is simple.
I loro problemi sono grandi.
Their problems are big.
My friend arrives late.
Ho dimenticato la tua giacca.
I forgot your jacket.
La nostra idea è semplice.
Our idea is simple.
I loro problemi sono grandi.
Their problems are big.
Beginner Tip 💚
Always ask yourself:
Is the noun masculine or feminine?
Singular or plural?
The possessive will follow automatically.
Is the noun masculine or feminine?
Singular or plural?
The possessive will follow automatically.