If you want to know how to say your in German, the word changes according to the person you are speaking to, the noun’s gender, and the grammatical case. The common informal forms are dein and deine. The formal possessive is Ihr or Ihre. Compare Und du? and Und Sie? for the corresponding forms of address.
“Your” in German is usually dein before a masculine or neuter singular noun and deine before a feminine or plural noun. Formally, use Ihr or Ihre.
How Do You Say Your in German?
German translates your with a possessive determiner that agrees with the noun. When speaking informally to one person, the base form is dein. The endings follow the same broad pattern as mein, “my”.
Before a feminine noun or a plural noun, use deine: deine Mutter, “your mother,” and deine Freunde, “your friends.”
Meaning: Your
Different Forms of Your in German
The form changes with gender, number, case, and whether you use informal du or formal Sie.
1. Dein — Your, Informal
Dein is used with masculine and neuter singular nouns in the basic form: dein Bruder, “your brother,” and dein Haus, “your house.”
2. Deine — Your, Feminine or Plural
Deine is used with feminine singular nouns and all plural nouns: deine Schwester, “your sister,” and deine Bücher, “your books.”
3. Deinen — Your, Accusative Masculine
Before a masculine noun in the accusative case, dein becomes deinen: Ich sehe deinen Hund, “I see your dog.”
4. Deinem / Deiner — Your, Dative
In the dative case, use deinem with masculine or neuter nouns and deiner with feminine nouns: mit deinem Freund, “with your friend,” and mit deiner Schwester, “with your sister.”
5. Ihr / Ihre — Your, Formal
When speaking formally to one person or to several people, capitalize the possessive: Ihr and Ihre. For example, Wie ist Ihre Adresse? means “What is your address?” formally.
Your in German: Quick Comparison
← Swipe horizontally to see the full table →
| German | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|
| dein | your | Informal; masculine or neuter singular |
| deine | your | Informal; feminine or plural |
| deinen | your | Informal; masculine accusative |
| deinem / deiner | your | Informal; dative |
| Ihr / Ihre | your | Formal or plural, capitalized |
How to Pronounce Dein
Dein is pronounced approximately “dine.” The ei combination sounds like the English “eye” in “time.” Deine sounds like “DYE-nuh.”
In formal Ihr, the initial sound is like a long German “ee,” and Ihre sounds approximately “EE-ruh.”
Dein or Ihr: Informal vs. Formal
Use dein and its forms with someone you address as du, such as a friend, child, or family member. Use capitalized Ihr and Ihre with formal Sie.
Capitalization matters: ihr can mean “her,” “their,” or “you all” depending on context, while Ihr means formal “your.”
Example Sentences Using Your in German
Use: Informal masculine noun.
Use: Informal feminine noun.
Use: Formal address.
Frequently Asked Questions About Your in German
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say your in German?
Use dein informally with a masculine or neuter singular noun, and deine with a feminine or plural noun. Formally, use Ihr or Ihre.
What is the difference between dein and deine?
Dein is used with masculine and neuter singular nouns. Deine is used with feminine singular and plural nouns in the basic form.
How do you say your formally in German?
Use capitalized Ihr or Ihre, as in Ihre Adresse, “your address.”
How do you say your dog in German?
Dein Hund is informal. Ihr Hund is formal or can mean “her dog,” depending on capitalization and context.
Why does dein change to deinen?
Deinen is the masculine accusative form, used when the noun is the direct object: Ich sehe deinen Hund.
What is the difference between Ihr and ihr?
Capitalized Ihr means formal “your.” Lowercase ihr can mean “her,” “their,” or informal plural “your,” depending on context.
Summary: How to Say Your in German
Informal “your” in German is dein or deine. The form changes with the noun’s gender, number, and case.
Use capitalized Ihr or Ihre for formal “your.” Examples include dein Hund, deine Tasche, and Ihre Adresse.
