A2 Polish GrammarPossessive Pronouns
Learn Polish possessive pronouns (zaimki dzierżawcze) that replace nouns with ownership meaning: mój/moja/moje (mine), twój (yours), and others. Unlike possessive adjectives which describe nouns, possessive pronouns stand alone and decline for gender, number, and case.
1Possessive Pronouns Overview
Polish possessive pronouns replace nouns and agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they replace. The main forms are mój (mine), twój (yours), jego (his), jej (hers), nasz (ours), wasz (yours pl.), and ich (theirs). Unlike possessive adjectives, pronouns stand alone.
Basic Possessive Pronouns
| Person | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| mine | mój | moja | moje |
| yours (sg.) | twój | twoja | twoje |
| his | jego | jego | jego |
| hers | jej | jej | jej |
| ours | nasz | nasza | nasze |
| yours (pl.) | wasz | wasza | wasze |
Examples
To jest mój. Twój jest tam.
This is mine. Yours is there.
Pronouns standing alone
Ten dom jest nasz.
This house is ours.
nasz agrees with dom (masc.)
Ta książka jest moja, nie twoja.
This book is mine, not yours.
moja/twoja with książka (fem.)
Czyje to dziecko? Moje.
Whose child is this? Mine.
moje with dziecko (neut.)
2Declension of Mój/Twój
Mój and twój decline like adjectives through all seven Polish cases. The forms change based on gender, number, and the case required by the verb or preposition. The patterns are similar for both pronouns. Learning these thoroughly helps with all possessives.
Mój (mine) Declension - Singular
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | mój | moja | moje |
| Genitive | mojego | mojej | mojego |
| Dative | mojemu | mojej | mojemu |
| Accusative | mój/mojego | moją | moje |
| Instrumental | moim | moją | moim |
| Locative | moim | mojej | moim |
Examples
Szukam mojego klucza.
I'm looking for my key.
mojego - genitive masculine
Dałem to mojej siostrze.
I gave it to my sister.
mojej - dative feminine
Idę z moim bratem.
I'm going with my brother.
moim - instrumental masculine
Widzę moją mamę.
I see my mom.
moją - accusative feminine
3Nasz/Wasz Forms
Nasz (ours) and wasz (yours plural/formal) follow similar patterns to mój but with different stems. These are used when referring to collective ownership by 'we' or 'you (plural)'. The endings match the standard adjective declension.
Nasz (ours) Declension - Singular
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | nasz | nasza | nasze |
| Genitive | naszego | naszej | naszego |
| Dative | naszemu | naszej | naszemu |
| Accusative | nasz/naszego | naszą | nasze |
| Instrumental | naszym | naszą | naszym |
| Locative | naszym | naszej | naszym |
Examples
To jest nasz dom.
This is our house.
nasz - nominative masculine
Lubię waszą mamę.
I like your (pl.) mom.
waszą - accusative feminine
Mieszkam w naszym mieście.
I live in our city.
naszym - locative neuter
Czy to wasze auto?
Is this your (pl.) car?
wasze - nominative neuter
4Jego, Jej, Ich (Third Person)
The third person possessives jego (his), jej (hers), and ich (theirs) are invariable - they don't change for case, gender, or number. This makes them easier to use than first and second person forms. Swój is used instead when referring back to the subject.
Third Person Possessives
| Pronoun | Gender | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| jego | masculine | his | jego samochód |
| jej | feminine | her/hers | jej torba |
| ich | plural | their/theirs | ich rodzice |
| swój | reflexive | one's own | Widzę swój dom. |
Examples
Widziałem jego brata.
I saw his brother.
jego never changes form
Idę do jej domu.
I'm going to her house.
jej - invariable
Znam ich rodziców.
I know their parents.
ich - invariable for all cases
On kocha swoją żonę.
He loves his (own) wife.
swój refers back to subject