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det A1 Beginner Very common

her

HUR
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Her (det) means belonging to her — used before a noun to show something is owned by or associated with a particular woman, girl, or (in older or poetic use) a ship, country, etc. Example: “She left her umbrella on the train.”

det
1
Belonging to her — used before a noun to show something is owned by or associated with a particular woman, girl, or (in older or poetic use) a ship, country, etc.
"She left her umbrella on the train."
"The captain steered her ship carefully into harbour."
"Maria packed her suitcase and checked her passport twice."
pron
1
The object form of "she" — used after a verb or preposition.
"I gave her the keys before I left."
"Can you pass this note to her?"
"The teacher smiled at her and handed back the test."

How to use her

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe word used for "belonging to she" (her coat) or as the object of a sentence (I saw her).

Common mistake

"Her" is used before a noun (her book) or as an object (I called her); "hers" stands alone (that book is hers).

Easily confused with
hers →
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Word forms

Plural
hers
Test yourself on “her” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She left _____ umbrella on the train.

Etymology

From Old English hire, the dative and genitive form of "she," going back to a common Germanic root shared with Dutch haar and German ihr.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for her

Cher Sher
See all rhymes for her →

Frequently asked questions

What does “her” mean?
The word “her” means belonging to her — used before a noun to show something is owned by or associated with a particular woman, girl, or (in older or poetic use) a ship, country, etc. In plain terms, the word used for "belonging to she" (her coat) or as the object of a sentence (I saw her).
How do you pronounce “her”?
“Her” is pronounced HUR (/ˈhɝ/ in IPA).
How do you use “her” in a sentence?
Here is “her” used in a sentence: “She left her umbrella on the train.”
What part of speech is “her”?
Depending on how it is used, “her” can be a det and a pronoun.
Where does the word “her” come from?
The word “her” comes from Old English. From Old English hire, the dative and genitive form of "she," going back to a common Germanic root shared with Dutch haar and German ihr.
Is “her” a common word?
“Her” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “her” have?
“Her” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to her — used before a noun to show something is owned by or associated with a particular woman, girl, or (in older or poetic use) a ship, country, etc.
What is the difference between her and hers?
"Her" is used before a noun ("her book"), while "hers" stands alone without a noun ("the book is hers"). Note that "hers" never takes an apostrophe — "her's" is always wrong.
When should you use her instead of she?
Use "she" as the subject of a verb ("she called") and "her" as the object of a verb or preposition ("I called her," "with her"). A quick test: if you could replace the word with "him," use "her"; if you could replace it with "he," use "she."
Is it "her and I" or "she and I"?
It depends on the pair's role in the sentence. As a subject, say "she and I went" (not "her and I"); as an object, say "they invited her and me." Drop the other person to check: you would say "she went" and "they invited her."
Why are ships and countries sometimes called "her"?
In older and poetic English, ships, countries, and machines were often referred to with feminine words like "her," as in "the ship and her crew." The usage is traditional rather than grammatical, and many modern publications now prefer "it" and "its" instead.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing her in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

Hepburn also had a love for chocolate cake, developing her own flourless recipe.
From People · Jul 25, 2026

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