Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Their in Spanish: Su, Sus & De Ellos
Su · possessive adjective · soo
Their in Spanish is su (before a singular noun) or sus (before a plural noun). Since su can also mean his, her, your (formal), or its, speakers add de ellos or de ellas when clarification is needed.
soo (su) · soos (sus)
Los estudiantes entregaron su tarea a tiempo.
The students turned in their homework on time.
Their in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for their, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| su | their | soo | Default, widely understood |
| sus | their | plural possessed noun | |
| de ellos / de ellas | their | clarifying form |
How Native Speakers Use Su
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Possessing a singular noun
Los vecinos pintaron su casa de azul.
The neighbors painted their house blue.
Su agrees with the thing possessed (casa = singular), not the owners.
Possessing a plural noun
Ellos dejaron sus mochilas en el salón.
They left their backpacks in the classroom.
Sus is used because mochilas is plural.
Clarifying with de ellos
La culpa es de ellos, no nuestra.
The fault is theirs, not ours.
De ellos clarifies that their (not his/her/your) is intended.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Su
Making su agree with the owners
Incorrect: Ellos trajeron sus carro.
Correct: Ellos trajeron su carro.
Su/sus agrees with the possessed noun, not the possessor. One car = su carro; multiple cars = sus carros.
Using su when ambiguous
Incorrect: María y Juan lavaron su carro. (unclear whose)
Correct: María y Juan lavaron el carro de ellos.
When su could refer to multiple people, use de ellos/de ellas or restructure for clarity.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Su used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Their in Spanish
- How do you say their in Spanish?
- Their is su (before singular nouns) or sus (before plural nouns). Example: su casa (their house), sus libros (their books). Add de ellos/de ellas to clarify when needed.
- Why does su mean so many things?
- Su is a third-person and formal-you possessive that covers his, her, its, their, and your (usted). Context usually makes the meaning clear; otherwise, de él/ella/ellos/ellas/usted is added.
- What is the difference between su and sus?
- Su precedes singular nouns (su perro = their dog) and sus precedes plural nouns (sus perros = their dogs). The choice depends on the possessed item, not the possessor.