של / שלי

Saying Whose It Is

Level 1

של connects a thing to its owner. שלי means mine or my, and שלך, שלו, שלה and the other personal forms identify other owners.

How It Works

A Name or Noun

Put של before the owner: הבית של דנה, Dana’s house. The article on the possessed noun is usual when a specific owned thing is meant. ספר של דנה can instead mean a book of Dana’s.

Personal Owners

Learn שלי, שלך, שלו, שלה, שלנו, שלכם, שלכן, שלהם and שלהן. Unpointed שלך has different spoken forms for a male and female addressee. שלו means his even in המחברת שלו, his notebook: it agrees with the owner, not מחברת.

Whose?

של מי הספר? asks whose book it is. הספר שלי answers that the book is mine. Attached noun endings such as ספרי also express possession, but their use and register need a separate entry; של is common in everyday conversation.

Examples (4)

  1. הספר של דנה.

    The book is Dana’s.

    של introduces the owner.

  2. זאת המחברת שלו.

    This is his notebook.

    שלו identifies a male owner of a feminine noun.

  3. הבית שלנו קטן.

    Our house is small.

    שלנו follows the possessed noun.

  4. של מי הספר?

    Whose book is it?

    של מי asks about the owner.

Common Mistakes

  • Changing the owner form to match the possessed noun.

    המחברת שלה
    המחברת שלו

    If the intended owner is male, use שלו even though מחברת is feminine; שלה changes the owner to her.

How It Connects

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של / שליLevel 1Saying Whose It Is

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