their
Their (det) means belonging to them. Example: “The kids left their bikes on the lawn.”
How to use their
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelonging to more than one person (or, informally, to one person of unspecified gender).
A classic mix-up: their shows possession, there is a place, they're is short for "they are."
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids left _____ bikes on the lawn.
Etymology
From Old Norse þeira.
Rhymes for their
See all rhymes for their →Frequently asked questions
What does “their” mean?
The word “their” means belonging to them. In plain terms, belonging to more than one person (or, informally, to one person of unspecified gender).
How do you pronounce “their”?
“Their” is pronounced theh-uh (/ðɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “their” in a sentence?
Here is “their” used in a sentence: “The kids left their bikes on the lawn.”
What part of speech is “their”?
“Their” is a det.
Where does the word “their” come from?
The word “their” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse þeira.
Is “their” a common word?
“Their” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between their, there, and they're?
"Their" is a possessive determiner meaning belonging to them, as in "their house." "There" refers to a place ("put it there"), and "they're" is the contraction of "they are." Because all three sound identical, they are among the most commonly confused words in English writing.
Can their refer to just one person?
Yes. "Their" is widely used as a singular possessive when a person's gender is unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary, as in "someone left their umbrella." This singular use is accepted by major dictionaries and style guides, though some very formal writing still prefers "his or her."
What is the difference between their and theirs?
"Their" is a determiner and must be followed by a noun ("their car"), while "theirs" is a possessive pronoun that stands alone ("the car is theirs"). Neither word ever takes an apostrophe — "their's" is always incorrect.
Is it spelled their or thier?
The correct spelling is always "their," with e before i. "Their" is one of the common exceptions to the "i before e except after c" rule, which is why "thier" is such a frequent misspelling.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing their in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Tourists told the BBC of emergency alerts in the middle of the night, desperate drives just metres from six-storey high flames and the sight of people flocking to beaches with their suitcases.
Featured in
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