sein or ihr? German Possessive Articles Explained
Wie findest du sein Fahrrad? Or is it ihr Fahrrad? The answer depends on two things. In this A1.2 lesson you learn when to use the German possessive articles sein and ihr in the singular, how their endings change with the noun, and how the Akkusativ affects them.
The Basic Rule: sein for Men, ihr for Women
Ihr (her) is used for a woman or a girl. Sein (his) is used for a man or a boy. So far it works like in English. The difficult part is the ending, because it changes according to the gender of the object (the noun that follows), not the owner.
You already know mein, meine, dein, deine. Sein and ihr follow the same pattern.
ihr: for Women or Girls
| Noun gender | Possessive article | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| neuter (das Fahrrad) | ihr | Das ist ihr Fahrrad. | That is her bicycle. |
| masculine (der Pokal) | ihr | Das ist ihr Pokal. | That is her trophy. |
| feminine (die Mütze) | ihre | Das ist ihre Mütze. | That is her cap. |
| plural (die Bücher) | ihre | Das sind ihre Bücher. | Those are her books. |
sein: for Men or Boys
| Noun gender | Possessive article | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| masculine (der Schreibtisch) | sein | Das ist sein Schreibtisch. | That is his desk. |
| feminine (die Grafik) | seine | Das ist seine Grafik. | That is his graphic. |
| plural (die Bücher) | seine | Das sind seine Bücher. | Those are his books. |
A helpful trick: look at the definite article. Die Mütze and die Bücher end in -e, so ihre Mütze and ihre Bücher end in -e too. The same works for seine.
Nominativ and Akkusativ
Everything above was Nominativ. In the Akkusativ, only the masculine form changes: sein becomes seinen and ihr becomes ihren.
| Example | Why |
|---|---|
| Wie findest du seinen Hut? What do you think of his hat? | A man owns it, der Hut is masculine, and finden needs the Akkusativ. |
| Findest du ihren Laptop gut? Do you like her laptop? | A woman owns it, der Laptop is masculine, and finden needs the Akkusativ. |
| Magst du ihre Brille? Do you like her glasses? | A woman owns it, die Brille is feminine, so the form stays ihre, but the verb mögen needs the Akkusativ. |
Bonus Tip: Names with -s
For people you can use an alternative, exactly like in English: add an s without an apostrophe. Das ist ihr Haus becomes Das ist Annas Haus. If the name already ends in s, add only an apostrophe: Das ist Jonas' Haus.
Homework
Write two or three sentences in the comments: one with sein, one with ihr and, if possible, one in the Akkusativ.
What to Learn Next
See the full table in Mein, Dein, Sein: German Possessives, then continue with German Possessive Articles in the Accusative Case and German Possessive Articles in the Dative Case.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use sein and when ihr in German?
Use sein for a man or boy (his) and ihr for a woman or girl (her).
Why does ihr sometimes become ihre?
The ending depends on the noun that follows, not on the owner. Masculine and neuter nouns take ihr (ihr Pokal, ihr Fahrrad). Feminine and plural nouns take ihre (ihre Mütze, ihre Bücher).
How do sein and ihr change in the Akkusativ?
Only the masculine form changes: sein becomes seinen and ihr becomes ihren. Example: Wie findest du seinen Hut? Findest du ihren Laptop gut?
Do the feminine and plural forms change in the Akkusativ?
No. Seine and ihre stay the same: Magst du ihre Brille?
How do I say Anna's house in German?
Add an s without an apostrophe: Annas Haus. If the name ends in s, add only an apostrophe: Jonas' Haus.
Want to practise possessive articles and all other A1 grammar in a clear order? Our A1 German online course guides you through it step by step.
