su (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

"Su" is a possessive adjective in Spanish.

Phonetic Transcription

/su/

Translation Options into English

• His
• Her
• Its
• Your (formal)
• Their

Meaning and Usage

"Su" signifies possession and is used to indicate that something belongs to someone. It can refer to singular or plural ownership depending on the context, and it is used to refer to a third person (he, she, it) and to formal second person (you).

In the Spanish language, "su" is frequently used in both oral and written contexts, making it a very common word in everyday communication.

Example Sentences

1. Su libro es muy interesante.

2. His book is very interesting.

3. Ella siempre cuida su salud.

4. She always takes care of her health.

5. El perro perdió su juguete.

6. The dog lost its toy.

Idiomatic Expressions

"Su" is often embedded in common expressions due to its possessive nature. Below are some idiomatic expressions that incorporate "su":

1. A su manera
2. "Él hace las cosas a su manera."

3. "He does things his way."

4. Estar en su salsa

5. "En la fiesta, ella estaba en su salsa."

6. "At the party, she was in her element."

7. Hacer algo por su cuenta

8. "Ella decidió hacer el proyecto por su cuenta."

9. "She decided to do the project on her own."

10. Tomar su tiempo

11. "No te apresures, toma tu tiempo."

12. "Don’t rush, take your time."

13. Dar en su punto

14. "El chef sabe dar en su punto la carne."
15. "The chef knows how to cook the meat just right."

Etymology

"Su" comes from the Latin "suus, sua, suum," which means "his, her, its." The terms were used to indicate possession in a similar way as they do in modern Spanish.

Synonyms

• Propio (own) in some contexts
• De él/ella/ellos (of him/her/them)

Antonyms

• Ajeno (alien, belonging to another)
• Extraño (strange, unknown) in possessive contexts.

Overall, "su" is an essential component of Spanish grammar used to indicate possession and to refer to individuals in multiple contexts. Its frequent use in spoken and written forms showcases its integral role in everyday communication.