A1 Swedish GrammarPossessive Adjectives
Express ownership in Swedish using possessive adjectives like min (my), din (your), hans (his), hennes (her). Swedish possessives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe, not with the owner. Learn all forms to talk about belongings and relationships.
1My, Your, His, Her (Singular Owners)
Swedish possessive adjectives change based on the gender and number of the thing owned. For 'my': min (en-word), mitt (ett-word), mina (plural). 'Din' (your) follows the same pattern. 'Hans' (his) and 'hennes' (her) never change form.
Possessive Forms (Singular)
| English | En-word | Ett-word | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| my | min | mitt | mina |
| your (singular) | din | ditt | dina |
| his | hans | hans | hans |
| her | hennes | hennes | hennes |
Examples
Det är min bil.
That is my car.
min with en-word (bil)
Var är mitt hus?
Where is my house?
mitt with ett-word (hus)
Mina vänner kommer.
My friends are coming.
mina with plural (vänner)
Hans syster bor här.
His sister lives here.
hans never changes
2Our, Your (Plural), Their
For 'our': vår (en-word), vårt (ett-word), våra (plural). 'Er' (your plural/formal) follows the same pattern. 'Deras' (their) never changes, just like hans/hennes. Formal 'you' (Ni) uses 'er/ert/era'.
Possessive Forms (Plural Owners)
| English | En-word | Ett-word | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| our | vår | vårt | våra |
| your (plural) | er | ert | era |
| their | deras | deras | deras |
Examples
Vår lägenhet är stor.
Our apartment is big.
vår with en-word (lägenhet)
VÃ¥rt barn sover.
Our child is sleeping.
vårt with ett-word (barn)
Era biljetter, tack.
Your tickets, please.
era with plural (biljetter)
Deras hund är snäll.
Their dog is nice.
deras never changes
3Its and Reflexive Sin/Sitt/Sina
For 'its', Swedish uses 'dess' (unchanging). Swedish also has reflexive possessives sin/sitt/sina, which refer back to the subject. Use sin (not hans/hennes) when the owner is the sentence subject: 'Hon älskar sin man' (She loves her husband).
Reflexive Possessives
| Form | Used With | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| sin | en-word | Han tar sin bok. | He takes his book. |
| sitt | ett-word | Hon tar sitt äpple. | She takes her apple. |
| sina | plural | De tar sina saker. | They take their things. |
| dess | its (all) | Stadens dess namn. | The city's name. |
Examples
Hon älskar sin man.
She loves her (own) husband.
sin = her own (reflexive)
Han tvättar sitt ansikte.
He washes his (own) face.
sitt with ett-word
De säljer sina hus.
They sell their (own) houses.
sina = their own (plural)
Boken och dess författare.
The book and its author.
dess = its
4Common Possessive Phrases
Possessives appear in many everyday expressions. 'Min familj' (my family), 'ditt namn' (your name), 'vår tid' (our time). When introducing family members or talking about belongings, possessives are essential. Practice these common phrases.
Everyday Phrases with Possessives
| Swedish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vad heter din mamma? | What is your mom's name? | din + en-word |
| Det är mitt problem. | That's my problem. | mitt + ett-word |
| Vi saknar våra barn. | We miss our children. | våra + plural |
| Hennes bror arbetar här. | Her brother works here. | hennes (no change) |
Examples
Det är min bror Erik.
This is my brother Erik.
Introducing family
Vad är ditt telefonnummer?
What is your phone number?
ditt with ett-word
Jag gillar dina idéer.
I like your ideas.
dina with plural
Var är era nycklar?
Where are your keys?
era = your (plural)