Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
His in Spanish: Su, Suyo, and De Él
Su · possessive adjective / pronoun · soo
'His' in Spanish is su (soo) before a noun: su libro (his book). The standalone form is suyo: el libro es suyo (the book is his). Since su can mean his, her, your (formal), or their, add de él for unambiguous 'his.'
Su is soo, one syllable. Suyo is SOO-yoh.
Juan olvidó su cartera en el restaurante.
Juan forgot his wallet at the restaurant.
His in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for his, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| su | his | soo | Default, widely understood |
| suyo | his | his (standalone possessive) | |
| de él | his | of him (for clarity) |
How Native Speakers Use Su
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Before a noun
Pedro trajo su guitarra a la fiesta.
Pedro brought his guitar to the party.
Su before the noun—context tells us it's his.
Standalone possessive
Ese abrigo es suyo, no mío.
That coat is his, not mine.
Suyo stands alone and agrees with the possessed object, not the owner.
Clarifying with de él
La idea fue de él, no de ella.
The idea was his, not hers.
De él removes all ambiguity when su could be confusing.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Su
Making su agree with the owner's gender
Incorrect: Mario y su carro. María y sa carro.
Correct: Mario y su carro. María y su carro.
Su does not change based on the owner's gender. It agrees with the noun it modifies: su carro (his/her car), sus carros (his/her cars).
Using él instead of su
Incorrect: Él libro.
Correct: Su libro.
Él means he. Su is the possessive his/her. They are different words and cannot substitute for each other.
Lock in His Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Su used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using su in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Juan olvidó su cartera en el restaurante. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About His in Spanish
- How do you say his in Spanish?
- 'His' is su before a noun (su casa) or suyo standing alone (es suyo). Use de él for clarity when su is ambiguous.
- Does su change for gender?
- Su agrees with the possessed noun, not the owner. Su casa (his/her house), sus libros (his/her books). The owner's gender doesn't affect su.
- How do I tell apart su meaning his, her, your, or their?
- Context usually clarifies. If not, use de él (his), de ella (her), de usted (your formal), or de ellos/ellas (their) after the noun.