Possessivartikel mein, meine

Mein or Meine? How to Choose

In English, you always say “my.” In German, the word changes based on the gender (masculine, feminine, or neutral) and the number (singular or plural) of the thing you own.

1. Use “Mein” for Masculine and Neutral

If the noun is masculine (der) or neutral (das), use mein.

Der Vater (The father) $\rightarrow$ Mein Vater (My father)
Das Buch (The book) $\rightarrow$ Mein Buch (My book)
Der Hund (The dog) $\rightarrow$ Mein Hund (My dog)
Das Haus (The house) $\rightarrow$ Mein Haus (My house)

2. Use “Meine” for Feminine and Plural

If the noun is feminine (die) or plural (die), use meine. Adding the -e at the end makes it feminine or plural.

Die Mutter (The mother) $\rightarrow$ Meine Mutter (My mother)
Die Katze (The cat) $\rightarrow$ Meine Katze (My cat)
Die Kinder (The children) $\rightarrow$ Meine Kinder (My children)
Die Bücher (The books) $\rightarrow$ Meine Bücher (My books)

Quick Summary Table

Gender / Number	Article	Example	English
Masculine	mein	mein Bruder	my brother
Neutral	mein	mein Auto	my car
Feminine	meine	meine Schwester	my sister
Plural	meine	meine Autos	my cars

Tips for Beginners

Check the Article: Before you say “my,” think about the article of the noun. Is it der, die, or das?
Rhyme Rule: If the article is die, the possessive ends in -e (meine).

Important Vocabulary

Das Auto: The car
Der Bruder: The brother
Die Schwester: The sister
Die Eltern: The parents (Plural)