his
hihz
His (determiner) means belonging to or associated with him. Example: “That is his car parked outside.”
determiner
1
Belonging to or associated with him.
"That is his car parked outside."
"She borrowed his umbrella for the walk home."
pronoun
1
The thing or things belonging to him (used without a following noun).
"This jacket isn't mine, it's his."
"The final decision was his to make."
How to use his
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to show that something belongs to, or is connected with, a male person (or an animal/thing referred to as "he").
Common mistake
Never write "his'" with an apostrophe — "his" is already possessive and needs nothing added, unlike "it's" vs "its."
Common pairings
his own
his and hers
a friend of his
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Etymology
From Old English his, the old genitive form of he — it originally meant something closer to "of him" before it settled into today's possessive use.
Rhymes for his
See all rhymes for his →Frequently asked questions
What does “his” mean?
The word “his” means belonging to or associated with him. In plain terms, used to show that something belongs to, or is connected with, a male person (or an animal/thing referred to as "he").
How do you pronounce “his”?
“His” is pronounced hihz (/hɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “his” in a sentence?
Here is “his” used in a sentence: “That is his car parked outside.”
What part of speech is “his”?
Depending on how it is used, “his” can be a determiner and a pronoun.
Where does the word “his” come from?
The word “his” comes from Old English. From Old English his, the old genitive form of he — it originally meant something closer to "of him" before it settled into today's possessive use.
Is “his” a common word?
“His” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “his” have?
“His” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to or associated with him.
What is the difference between "his" and "him"?
"His" shows possession, as in "his car," while "him" is the object form of "he," used after verbs and prepositions, as in "I saw him." A simple test: if the word marks something belonging to him, use "his"; if it receives the action, use "him".
Is it "his" or "he's"?
"His" is a possessive word and never takes an apostrophe, as in "his phone." "He's" is a contraction of "he is" or "he has," so a phrase like "he's phone" is always wrong.
Can "his" stand alone without a noun after it?
Yes. As well as sitting before a noun ("his desk"), "his" can replace the whole noun phrase, as in "The blue coat is his." Unlike "her/hers" or "your/yours," the same form is used for both jobs.
When should you use "their" instead of "his"?
"His" refers specifically to a male person or animal. When someone's gender is unknown, unspecified, or non-binary, singular "their" is now the widely accepted choice, as in "Every student should bring their laptop" rather than "his laptop".
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