Pattern
Possessive adjectives agree with the possessed noun: meu (masc. sg.), mea (fem. sg.), mei (masc. pl.), mele (fem. pl.). Position: usually AFTER the noun with the definite article: fratele meu (my brother).
Explanation
In Romanian, "my" changes form based on the gender and number of what is owned, not the speaker. Fratele meu (my brother — masculine, singular). Sora mea (my sister — feminine, singular). Frații mei (my brothers). Surorile mele (my sisters). Notice the noun takes a definite article (-le on fratele, -a on sora) when followed by the possessive.
The placement matters: noun + possessive is the standard pattern. Mea sora sounds foreign. Some fixed expressions place the possessive before the noun for stylistic emphasis (e.g., draga mea vs. mea dragă), but as a learner, default to noun + possessive.
For other persons (your, his, our…), each has four forms too: tău/ta/tăi/tale (your sg.), său/sa/săi/sale (his/her), nostru/noastră/noștri/noastre (our), vostru/voastră/voștri/voastre (your pl.), lor (their — invariable). For now, master meu/mea/mei/mele and you'll handle most "my" sentences.
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Fratele meu e student. | My brother is a student. |
| Sora mea e profesoară. | My sister is a teacher. |
| Părinții mei locuiesc în Cluj. | My parents live in Cluj. |
| Cărțile mele sunt acasă. | My books are at home. |
| Prietena mea se numește Ana. | My (girl)friend's name is Ana. |
Common mistakes
- Using meu with a feminine noun: Sora meu is wrong — say sora mea.
- Placing the possessive before the noun: Mea sora is wrong; it's sora mea.
- Forgetting the definite article on the noun: Frate meu is wrong; you need the article: fratele meu.