What does hers mean?
Hers is a possessive pronoun used to show that something belongs to, or is associated with, a female person already mentioned. It is commonly used with nouns such as “hat,” “car,” “book,” and “choice”: “Is this your pen?” “No, it’s hers.” The word is also used in constructions such as “a friend of hers” and “that idea of hers,” where it identifies the possessor without repeating a name or noun. Although its form ends in -s, hers does not indicate a plural; the ending is a traditional possessive marker. Hers is standard in both British and American English and is appropriate in formal and informal contexts. Its meaning can sometimes be inferred from context, as in “The red one is hers,” where the speaker contrasts it with another person’s possession.
possessive pronounA possessive pronoun used to indicate that something belongs to or is associated with a female person previously mentioned. It can also refer to a female person herself in emphatic contexts.
- Used to indicate possession or association with a female person previously mentioned.
- Used to refer to a female person herself.
"The blue scarf is hers."
"The blue scarf is hers."
"Those books are hers; mine are on the shelf."
The “s” in hers is not a plural: it is a possessive badge, the same kind of ending seen in his and its.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hers come from?
Hers is an English possessive form built on her, whose older forms descend from Old English. The -s is a possessive ending, reflecting a grammatical pattern preserved in pronouns such as his, its, ours, yours, and theirs. Although the ending resembles a plural marker, it marks possession rather than number.
How hers is actually used
Neutral and standard in formal and informal British and American English. It is especially useful when the possessor has already been identified or when a construction such as “a friend of hers” avoids repetition.
Easily confused with hers
Hers is the standard possessive pronoun without an apostrophe, while her's is a nonstandard spelling in modern standard English.