German word

dein

Pronunciation

IPA/daɪ̯n/

Meaning

  • pronounyour

Example

Wo ist deine Tasche?

Where is your bag?

Illustration for dein (your)

More examples

Ist das dein Handy?

Is that your mobile phone?

Core concept

A label attached to a person or thing marks it as belonging to the person addressed informally.

Common phrases

  • dein Name

    your name

  • dein Handy

    your mobile phone

Similar words

unser: Indicates shared ownership by the speaker and other people.
sein: Indicates ownership by a man or boy.
Ihr: Indicates ownership by the person being addressed formally.

Definition in German

Drückt bei der Anrede mit „du“ den Besitz oder die Zugehörigkeit der angesprochenen Person aus und passt sich dem folgenden Nomen in Genus und Numerus an.

Word origin

German dein developed from Old High German dīn and traces back to the Proto-Germanic second-person possessive form *þīnaz.

Usage tips

  • Dein belongs with du, while the formal equivalent is Ihr with a capital letter; the choice depends on the relationship with the addressee.

Opposites

Word lists with this word