Comparison of Italian and Spanish

Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives

The following table shows the Italian possessive adjectives:

Mas. Sg.Fem. Sg.Mas. Pl.Fem. Pl.
1st pn sg.il miola miai mieile mie
2nd pn sg.il tuola tuai tuoile tue
3rd pn sg.il suola suai suoile sue
1st pn pl.il nostrola nostrai nostrile nostre
2nd pn pl.il vostrola vostrai vostrile vostre
3rd pn pl.il lorola loroi lorole loro

We see that the possessive adjectives vary according to the person of the possessor, and also according to the number and gender of the thing possessed.
The definite article may be omitted in some set phrases. E.g. 'my wife' is simply mia moglie.
The Italian possessive pronouns are identical to the possessive adjectives. E.g., il mio means 'my one'.

Now, here are the Spanish possessive adjectives:

Mas. Sg.Fem. Sg.Mas. Pl.Fem. Pl.
1st pn sg.mimimismis
2nd pn sg.tututustus
3rd pn sg.sususussus
1st pn pl.nuestronuestranuestrosnuestras
2nd pn pl.vuestrovuestravuestrosvuestras
3rd pn pl.sususussus

We see that the definite article is not necessary.
We also see that the possessive adjectives do not vary according to gender when the possessor is singular.
Finally, we observe that the 3rd person plural forms are identical to the 3rd person singular forms.

In Spanish, unlike in Italian, the possessive pronouns are (slightly) different from the possessive adjectives:

Mas. Sg.Fem. Sg.Mas. Pl.Fem. Pl.
1st pn sg.el míola mía los míoslas mías
2nd pn sg.el tuyola tuyalos tuyoslas tuyas
3rd pn sg.el suyola suyalos suyoslas suyas
1st pn pl.el nuestrola nuestralos nuestroslas nuestras
2nd pn pl.el vuestrola vuestralos vuestroslas vuestras
3rd pn pl.el suyola suyalos suyoslas suyas

Created October 2006 by Adam N. Letchford.