German Possession: mein vs meine and the Possessive 's
Learn German possessive articles (mein/meine) and how to show possession with proper names and 'von' phrases, with clear examples and practice.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In German, possession is often shown with possessive articles like mein and meine, which change based on the gender and case of the noun they modify. Unlike English, German does not use an apostrophe s for possession with names; instead, you either put the name before the noun without an apostrophe or use a von phrase. This lesson explains the difference between mein and meine, and how to express possession in German accurately.
By the end, you can…
- choose between mein and meine based on the gender of the noun.
- show possession using proper names and von phrases in German.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Das ist mein Bruder.
That is my brother.
dahs ist mine BROO-der
Use mein with masculine nouns like Bruder.
Das ist meine Schwester.
That is my sister.
dahs ist MY-nuh SHVES-ter
Use meine with feminine nouns like Schwester.
Marias Tasche
Maria's bag
mah-REE-ahs TAH-khuh
With names, German adds no apostrophe; the name simply precedes the noun.
Das Ende des Films
The end of the film
dahs EN-duh des FILMS
Use des + noun for masculine/neuter nouns in the genitive, equivalent to 'of the'.
Das Auto von meinem Vater
My father's car
dahs OW-toh fon MY-nem FAH-ter
A common alternative to the genitive, especially in spoken German: von + dative.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Possessive articles like mein and meine agree with the gender and case of the noun they modify. For masculine and neuter nouns in the nominative, use mein: mein Bruder, mein Auto. For feminine and plural nouns in the nominative, use meine: meine Schwester, meine Eltern. In the accusative case, only masculine changes: meinen Bruder, but meine Schwester and mein Auto remain the same. For example: Ich sehe meinen Bruder. Ich sehe meine Schwester. Ich sehe mein Auto.
When to use it
Use possessive articles when you want to say that something belongs to you or someone else. Use mein/meine for 'my', dein/deine for 'your', sein/seine for 'his', ihr/ihre for 'her', unser/unsere for 'our', euer/eure for 'your' (plural informal), and Ihr/Ihre for 'your' (formal). For proper names, German typically places the name before the noun without an apostrophe: Marias Tasche, Peters Auto. In spoken German, von + dative is very common: das Auto von meinem Vater. The genitive case (des Films, der Frau) is more formal and often used in writing.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ist das dein Bruder?
Is that your brother?ist dahs dine BROO-derNein, das ist mein Cousin. Und das ist meine Schwester.
No, that is my cousin. And that is my sister.nine, dahs ist mine koo-ZANG. unt dahs ist MY-nuh SHVES-terWie heißt die Freundin von deinem Cousin?
What is the name of your cousin's girlfriend?vee hyste dee FROYN-din fon DINE-em koo-ZANGSie heißt Anna. Annas Tasche ist rot.
Her name is Anna. Anna's bag is red.zee hyst AH-nah. AH-nahs TAH-khuh ist rohtA little context goes a long way
In German, using the genitive case (e.g., das Ende des Films) sounds more formal and is common in writing. In everyday conversation, von + dative (das Ende von dem Film) is often preferred. With names, the apostrophe is not used; Marias Tasche is correct. However, you may see an apostrophe in informal contexts or brand names, but it is not standard.
One thing to watch for
Using an apostrophe with names, as in *Maria's Tasche.
Try this instead: In German, do not use an apostrophe: Marias Tasche. The name simply comes before the noun. For example: Peters Auto, nicht *Peter's Auto.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Complete: Das ist ___ Vater. (mein/meine)
Show a sample answer
mein
Vater is masculine, so use mein. Meine would be used with a feminine noun like Mutter.
2How do you say 'Anna's book' in German?
Show a sample answer
Annas Buch
In German, proper names take no apostrophe; the name precedes the noun. So Annas Buch is correct.
3Translate: 'the end of the film' using the genitive.
Show a sample answer
das Ende des Films
Film is masculine, so in the genitive it becomes des Films. The phrase das Ende des Films is standard. In spoken German, das Ende von dem Film is also common.
Use mein/meine based on the noun's gender and case. For possession with names, put the name before the noun without an apostrophe. For 'of' phrases, use the genitive (des/der) in formal contexts or von + dative in everyday speech.
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