उसका / उनका

His, Her and Their

Level 1Sounds Like usakā aura unakā

उसका and उनका show the owner, but not the owner's gender.

How It Works

उसका means his, her or its. Hindi does not show the owner's gender; the context does. उनका means their, and it is also the respectful his or her.

masculine, onefemininemasculine, more than one
his, her, itsउसकाउसकीउसके
their; respectful his, herउनकाउनकीउनके

The ending agrees with the thing owned. उसकी किताब can be his book or her book: की is there because किताब is feminine.

Use उनका for a group, and for one person you respect, such as a parent, a teacher or an older stranger: ये मेरे दादाजी हैं। उनका नाम हरीश है (This is my grandfather. His name is Harish).

For someone or something nearby, Hindi also has इसका and इनका, from यह and ये: इसका रंग (its color).

Before a postposition, the masculine singular forms change to उसके and उनके: उसके घर में (in his house).

Examples (5)

  1. यह रीमा है। उसका भाई डॉक्टर है।

    This is Reema. Her brother is a doctor.

    उसका means her here; -आ matches masculine भाई.

  2. अमित घर पर है। उसकी तबीयत ठीक नहीं है।

    Amit is at home. He isn't feeling well.

    उसकी means his here; -ई matches feminine तबीयत.

  3. उनके दोस्त यहाँ हैं।

    Their friends are here.

    उनके matches masculine plural दोस्त.

  4. माँ यहाँ हैं। उनकी किताब मेज़ पर है।

    Mom is here. Her book is on the table.

    उनकी refers to one mother, with respect.

  5. ये मेरे दादाजी हैं। उनका नाम हरीश है।

    This is my grandfather. His name is Harish.

    उनका is the respectful his.

Common Mistakes

  • Using उसकी to mean her.

    यह रीमा है। उसकी भाई डॉक्टर है।
    यह रीमा है। उसका भाई डॉक्टर है।

    The ending follows the thing owned. भाई is masculine, so her brother is उसका भाई.

How It Connects

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

उसका / उनकाLevel 1His, Her and Their

Learn This First

His, her and their are the possessive forms of वह and वे, and they agree like का.

Words in This Pattern

वहका