mijn
My
Mijn means 'my'. It is used before a noun to show ownership or a relationship.
How It Works
The word mijn is a possessive determiner (bezittelijk voornaamwoord). It functions almost exactly like the English word 'my'.
1. Usage and Position
It always comes before the noun it describes. For example: mijn hond (my dog), mijn huis (my house).
2. No Changes for Gender or Number
In Dutch, adjectives often get an extra '-e' depending on the noun, but mijn does not. It is always mijn:
- With de-words: mijn auto
- With het-words: mijn boek
- With plurals: mijn vrienden
3. Stressed vs. Unstressed
In spoken Dutch, you will often hear a shorter version: m'n. This is the 'weak' or unstressed form. You use mijn when you want to emphasize that it is your item and not someone else's, or in formal writing. In casual conversation, m'n is very common.
4. Distinction from 'me' and 'mij'
It is important not to confuse mijn with mij (me) or me (myself). While some native speakers informally use 'me' as a possessive (e.g., me moeder), this is considered grammatically incorrect.
Examples (4)
- Mijn broer woont in Amsterdam.
My brother lives in Amsterdam.
Word by Word: My brother lives in Amsterdam.
Here 'mijn' indicates a family relationship and precedes the de-word 'broer'.
- Ik kan mijn sleutels niet vinden.
I cannot find my keys.
Word by Word: I can my keys not find.
This shows 'mijn' used with a plural noun ('sleutels'). The form remains unchanged.
- Dit is mijn huis.
This is my house.
Word by Word: This is my house.
This shows 'mijn' used with a het-word ('huis').
- Waar is m'n tas?
Where is my bag?
Word by Word: Where is my bag?
This demonstrates the common unstressed spoken form 'm'n'.
Common Mistakes
Using 'me' where written Dutch needs 'mijn'.
Different MeaningWaar is me jas?Waar is mijn jas?'Me jas' is very common in speech, and 'm'n jas' is a normal short form. In careful writing, use 'mijn' or 'm'n'.
Adding an -e for de-words.
Dit is mijne fiets.Dit is mijn fiets.Unlike adjectives, 'mijn' never takes an -e ending when it stands before a noun.
Using 'mijn' at the end of a sentence without a noun.
Die auto is mijn.Die auto is van mij.In everyday Dutch, 'mijn' needs a noun after it. To say 'is mine', use 'van mij' or 'de mijne'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'mijn' (my), you first need to be familiar with the basic subject pronoun 'ik' (I) and the concept of how nouns function in Dutch sentences.
- ik/jij/hij/zijSubject Pronouns Singular
Understanding the first-person singular subject pronoun 'ik' is essential for learning its corresponding possessive form 'mijn'.
Level 1 - The De/Het System
Learners need to understand that Dutch nouns have genders, even though 'mijn' does not change its form based on the noun's gender.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- jouw/jeYour (Singular Informal)
'Jouw' is the second-person singular equivalent of 'mijn' (your).
Level 1 - mij/jou/hem/haarObject Pronouns
These are object pronouns; 'mij' is often confused with 'mijn' by beginners.
Level 1 - de mijne/die van mijMine, Yours, Theirs
These are the independent possessive forms used when the noun is omitted (e.g., 'It is mine').
Level 4 - Short Pronoun Forms
Explains how 'mijn' reduces to 'm'n' in natural speech.
Level 1 - ons/onzeOur
The plural possessive 'our', which (unlike 'mijn') does change based on the noun's gender.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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Practice mijn in Bubblegum
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