What does your mean?
“Your” is one of English’s most familiar possessive words. It identifies something as belonging to, connected with, or intended for the person or people being addressed. Before a noun, it functions as a possessive determiner: “your house,” “your name,” or “your question.” It can also stand alone as a possessive pronoun, especially in responses such as “Is this your bag?” or “The responsibility is yours.” The word is used with singular and plural “you,” but it does not change form to mark number. Its standard pronunciation is /jɔː(r)/ in British English and /jʊr/ in American English, with a linking “r” in connected speech in many British accents. Although “your” often feels ordinary, it is linguistically useful because it can perform two related grammatical roles without changing form. Its history also reflects broader changes in English address, as the modern possessive replaced older forms associated with the formal singular “thou.”
A determiner placed before a noun to indicate that the noun belongs to or is associated with the person or people being addressed.
"She left her umbrella by your door."
This is the most common function of “your” in contemporary English.
A possessive pronoun used independently to refer to what belongs to the person or people being addressed.
"The keys are your."
This independent use is common in responses and emphatic constructions.
“Your” can modify a noun or stand completely on its own, giving it a flexibility that many possessive words lack.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does your come from?
The modern form developed from Old English “eower,” the genitive of “þū,” meaning “thou.” It belongs to a Germanic family that includes German “euer” and Dutch “jouw.” In Middle English, “your” became the usual second-person possessive and gradually displaced older forms such as “thy” and “thine.”
Related word forms
How your is actually used
“Your” is neutral in register and is common in both formal and informal English. It does not change for singular or plural “you”; for example, “your” appears with both “you are” and “you are both.”
Easily confused with your
“Your” is normally placed before a noun, while “yours” is used alone or after a verb such as “is” or “belongs to.”
“Your” is a possessive word, whereas “you're” is the contraction of “you are.”