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In this lesson, you'll learn Italian possessive adjectives like mio/mia (my), tuo/tua (your), and suo/sua (his/her), used to show ownership and matched to the noun's gender and number.
  1. Possessive adjectives agree with the gender and number of the noun.
  2. The article is often used: il mio libro.
Persona (Person)Singolare (Singular)Plurale (Plural)
Io (I)Mio/Mia (Mine)Miei/Mie (Mine)
Tu (You)Tuo/Tua (Your)Tuoi/Tue (Yours)
Lui/Lei (He/She)Suo/Sua (His/Her)Suoi/Sue (His/Her)
Noi (We)Nostro/Nostra (Our)Nostri/Nostre (Our)
Voi (You)Vostro/Vostra (Your)Vostri/Vostre (Your (plural))
Loro (They)Loro (They)Loro (They)

Exceptions!

  1. With family members in the singular, the article is omitted: mia madre.
  2. In some cases, the possessive adjective can come after the noun: casa mia, amore mio!, colpa tua!.

Exercise 1: Gli aggettivi possessivi

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

suo, i vostri, i suoi, mia, mio, la sua, Tua, nostra

1.
Come stanno ... genitori?
(How are your parents?)
2.
Noi amiamo molto ... nonna.
(We love our grandmother very much.)
3.
Come si chiama ... padre?
(What is your father's name?)
4.
... madre è molto simpatica.
(Your mother is very nice.)
5.
Questa è ... sorella, si chiama Laura.
(This is my sister, her name is Laura.)
6.
Luca adora ... famiglia.
(Luca loves his family.)
7.
Lei va al cinema con ... cugini.
(She goes to the cinema with her cousins.)
8.
Questo è ... fratello minore.
(This is my younger brother.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. La ___ sorella ha due figli.

(My ___ sister has two children.)

2. Il ___ padre è simpatico.

(Your ___ father is nice.)

3. Abbiamo visitato la casa ___ ieri.

(We visited the ___ house yesterday.)

4. I ___ figli vanno a scuola insieme.

(Their ___ children go to school together.)

5. Ho parlato con ___ madre stamattina.

(I spoke with ___ mother this morning.)

6. Ti piace il libro ___?

(Do you like ___ book?)

Possessive Adjectives in Italian

This lesson focuses on possessive adjectives in Italian, which indicate ownership or belonging. They are essential for describing relationships between people and things in everyday conversation.

Understanding Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives in Italian agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they describe, not with the owner. For example:

  • il mio libro (my book - masculine singular)
  • la mia casa (my house - feminine singular)
  • i miei amici (my friends - masculine plural)
  • le mie sorelle (my sisters - feminine plural)

Possessive Adjective Forms

Here is a summary of key forms of possessive adjectives for each person:

PersonSingularPlural
Io (I)Mio / MiaMiei / Mie
Tu (You singular informal)Tuo / TuaTuoi / Tue
Lui / Lei (He / She)Suo / SuaSuoi / Sue
Noi (We)Nostro / NostraNostri / Nostre
Voi (You plural)Vostro / VostraVostri / Vostre
Loro (They)LoroLoro

Usage Notes

  • The definite article (il, la, i, le) is usually used before possessive adjectives, as in il mio libro (my book).
  • With singular family members, the article is typically omitted: mia madre (my mother).
  • Sometimes, the possessive adjective can come after the noun for emphasis or style, for example casa mia (my house), amore mio! (my love!), or colpa tua! (your fault!).

Key Differences Between Italian and English Possessives

Unlike English, where possessive adjectives (my, your, his) do not change based on gender or number of the noun, Italian possessive adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they modify, not the possessor. For example, la mia casa (my house - feminine) versus il mio libro (my book - masculine).

Additionally, Italian often uses definite articles with possessives, except with singular family members. This contrasts with English, where possessives stand alone.

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

  • Mio / Mia – my (masculine/feminine singular)
  • Tuo / Tua – your (informal singular)
  • Suo / Sua – his/her/its (also formal you)
  • Nostro / Nostra – our
  • Vostro / Vostra – your (plural)
  • Loro – their (invariable)
  • Examples:
    La mia sorella ha due figli. (My sister has two children.)
    Il tuo padre è simpatico. (Your father is nice.)
    Ho parlato con mia madre stamattina. (I spoke with my mother this morning.)

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 13:43