uw

Your (Formal)

Level 1

Uw is the formal way to say 'your' in Dutch. It is used when addressing someone respectfully, such as a stranger, a boss, or an elder.

How It Works

In Dutch, choosing the right word for 'your' depends on the level of formality. Uw is the formal counterpart to both the singular jouw/je and the plural jullie.

1. Usage and Register
Use uw in professional settings or when speaking to people you do not know well. It is used when addressing one person or a group of people formally. Unlike 'jouw', which has the weak form 'je', uw has no written reduced form. Note that when addressing multiple people formally with u, the verb remains in the singular form (e.g., 'U bent' is used for both one person and a group).

2. Invariable Form
Whether the noun is a de-word, a het-word, or a plural, the word remains uw:

  • Uw auto (de-word)
  • Uw huis (het-word)
  • Uw boeken (plural)

3. Reflexive Pronouns
When using reflexive verbs with the formal 'u', you have two choices for the reflexive pronoun: you can use u or zich. For example: 'U wast u' or 'U wast zich' (You wash yourself). Both are correct in formal Dutch.

4. Standalone Form (Substantive)
When the noun is omitted (e.g., "Is this yours?"), the standard modern way to express this is using van u (e.g., "Is dit van u?"). While forms like de uwe or het uwe exist, they are considered very formal or archaic in modern Dutch.

5. Spelling Note
A common point of confusion is between the subject/object pronoun u (you) and the possessive uw (your). Always add the -w when you are indicating possession.

6. Regional Difference
In the Netherlands, uw is strictly formal. However, in Flemish Dutch, uw is frequently used in more casual contexts as the possessive of 'gij'.

Examples (5)

  1. Wat is uw naam?

    What is your name?

    Word by Word: What is your name?

    A standard, polite way to ask for someone's name in a formal setting.

  2. Heeft u uw paspoort bij u?

    Do you have your passport with you?

    Word by Word: Have you your passport by you?

    This shows the difference between 'u' (subject/object) and 'uw' (possessive).

  3. Wij danken u voor uw geduld.

    We thank you for your patience.

    Word by Word: We thank you for your patience.

    A very common formal phrase used in customer service or business emails.

  4. Is dit uw tas?

    Is this your bag?

    Word by Word: Is this your bag?

    Used when addressing a stranger to ask if an item belongs to them.

  5. Vergeet uw sleutels niet.

    Don't forget your keys.

    Word by Word: Forget your keys not.

    Shows that 'uw' remains the same even when the noun ('sleutels') is plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the 'w' in writing.

    Wat is u adres?
    Wat is uw adres?

    Because 'u' and 'uw' sound very similar, learners often forget the 'w'. Remember: 'u' is 'you', 'uw' is 'your'.

  • Mixing formal and informal registers.

    Heeft u jouw jas?
    Heeft u uw jas?

    If you start a sentence with the formal 'u', you must use the formal 'uw' for possession to avoid a register clash.

  • Over-capitalizing 'uw' in the middle of a sentence.

    Ik heb Uw brief ontvangen.
    Ik heb uw brief ontvangen.

    In modern Dutch, 'u' and 'uw' are only capitalized when referring to a deity (like God) or in extremely archaic formal letters. Use lowercase in normal business Dutch.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

uwLevel 1Your (Formal)

Learn This First

To understand 'uw', learners need to be familiar with the concept of possessive pronouns and the distinction between formal and informal address in Dutch.

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uw