Mein vs. Meine: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on February 27, 2024
"Mein" and "meine" are German possessive pronouns, with "mein" used for masculine and neuter nouns, while "meine" is for feminine and plural nouns.
Key Differences
"Mein" is a possessive pronoun in German, used for masculine singular nouns like "Hund" (dog) and neuter singular nouns like "Buch" (book). "Meine" is used for feminine singular nouns like "Katze" (cat) and all plural nouns regardless of gender.
"Mein" aligns with the nominative and accusative cases for masculine and neuter nouns in German grammar. "Meine" aligns with the nominative and accusative cases for feminine nouns, and nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive cases for plural nouns.
The usage of "mein" and "meine" changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it is describing. While "mein" is used with singular masculine and neuter nouns, "meine" is necessary for singular feminine and all plural nouns.
"Mein" and "meine" reflect the gender and plurality of the noun they possess, showcasing the gendered and number agreement in German. For example, "mein Auto" (my car) uses "mein" for a neuter noun, while "meine Schuhe" (my shoes) uses "meine" for plural nouns.
The choice between "mein" and "meine" is crucial for grammatical accuracy in German, as it ensures agreement in gender and number between the possessive pronoun and the noun it modifies.
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Comparison Chart
Gender and Number Usage
Masculine and neuter singular nouns
Feminine singular and all plural nouns
Grammatical Cases
Nominative and accusative for masculine and neuter
Nominative, accusative, dative, genitive for feminine and plural
Example Nouns
Hund (dog), Buch (book)
Katze (cat), Schuhe (shoes)
Agreement in Gender
Yes, with masculine and neuter nouns
Yes, with feminine and plural nouns
Role in Sentence
Shows possession for masculine and neuter singular nouns
Shows possession for feminine singular and plural nouns
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Mein and Meine Definitions
Mein
"Mein" is used for masculine singular nouns.
Mein Bruder ist Arzt (My brother is a doctor).
Meine
"Meine" is used for feminine singular nouns.
Meine Mutter ist Lehrerin (My mother is a teacher).
Mein
"Mein" requires gender agreement with the noun it possesses.
Mein Computer funktioniert nicht (My computer is not working).
Meine
"Meine" aligns with feminine singular and plural nouns in all grammatical cases.
Ich sehe meine Schwester (I see my sister).
Mein
"Mein" indicates possession of a masculine or neuter singular noun.
Mein Hund heißt Max (My dog is called Max).
Meine
"Meine" is for all plural nouns, regardless of gender.
Meine Bücher sind alt (My books are old).
Mein
"Mein" agrees with masculine and neuter nouns in nominative and accusative cases.
Ich habe mein Buch verloren (I have lost my book).
Meine
"Meine" indicates possession of feminine and plural nouns.
Meine Schuhe sind neu (My shoes are new).
Mein
"Mein" is for neuter singular nouns.
Mein Auto ist blau (My car is blue).
Meine
"Meine" requires gender and number agreement with the noun it possesses.
Meine Kinder spielen draußen (My children are playing outside).
Meine
See Menge.
Meine
A family, including servants, etc.; household; retinue; train.
Meine
Company; band; army.
FAQs
What does "mein" mean?
"Mein" means "my" for masculine and neuter singular nouns.
Can "mein" be used for plural nouns?
No, "mein" is not used for plural nouns.
Can "mein" be used for feminine nouns?
No, "mein" is not used for feminine nouns.
Is "meine" used for masculine singular nouns?
No, "meine" is not used for masculine singular nouns.
How do I pronounce "meine"?
"Meine" is pronounced like "mine-uh."
When do I use "mein"?
Use "mein" with singular masculine and neuter nouns.
Does "meine" change in different cases?
Yes, "meine" changes in dative and genitive cases.
How is "mein" pronounced?
"Mein" is pronounced like the English word "mine."
What does "meine" mean?
"Meine" means "my" for feminine singular and all plural nouns.
When should I use "meine"?
Use "meine" with singular feminine and all plural nouns.
Are "mein" and "meine" interchangeable?
No, they depend on the gender and number of the noun.
Do I use "meine" with all feminine nouns?
Yes, for all feminine singular and plural nouns.
Give an example of "meine" with a plural noun.
"Meine Freunde sind nett" (My friends are nice).
Does "mein" change in different cases?
"Mein" changes form in dative and genitive cases.
Can "mein" be used with any noun?
Only with masculine and neuter singular nouns.
How important is gender in choosing "mein" or "meine"?
Very important, as it must match the noun's gender.
Can "meine" be used for singular and plural nouns?
Yes, for feminine singular and all plural nouns.
Is "meine" ever used for neuter nouns?
Yes, but only when the neuter nouns are plural.
Do "mein" and "meine" have the same meaning?
Yes, both mean "my," but they differ in usage.
What's an example of "mein" with a neuter noun?
"Mein Fenster ist offen" (My window is open).
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
