my
my
Pronunciation
my: /maɪ/
Syllable 1: /maɪ/
/m/: voiced bilabial nasal consonant
/aɪ/: diphthong (as in "kite" or "price")
Word Form Variations
The word "my" is a possessive determiner (also sometimes categorized as a possessive adjective or possessive pronoun, though more accurately a determiner in modern grammar). As such, it does not have singular or plural forms in the same way nouns or verbs do. It indicates possession by the speaker, regardless of the number of items possessed.
It is related to the following personal pronouns:
I (first person singular subject pronoun)
me (first person singular object pronoun)
mine (first person singular possessive pronoun)
myself (first person singular reflexive pronoun)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Possessive Determiner
Definition 1: Belonging to or associated with the speaker.
Synonyms: one's own, personal, private
Antonyms: your, his, her, its, our, their
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was my first time seeing such a vibrant sunset over the plains." (From Circe by Madeline Miller)
"He poured over the ancient maps, searching for my forgotten kingdom." (From The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss)
Newspapers:
"The local council announced my new initiative to reduce plastic waste in the city." (The Daily Nation)
"Experts expressed their concerns about the impact of the new legislation on my country's economy." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"In my latest blog post, I discuss the challenges of remote work and offer tips for productivity." (Forbes.com)
"Readers shared my favorite moments from the recent awards ceremony in the comments section." (BuzzFeed.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Dialogue): "That's my car you're leaning on, buddy." (From Succession, HBO)
Music (Song Lyrics): "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine." (From "You Are My Sunshine," popularized by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell, 1940)
Film (Dialogue): "You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know – that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives." (From A Few Good Men, 1992)
Video Games (In-game text/dialogue): "Protect my village at all costs!" (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to charge my phone before it dies."
"Can I borrow my pen back, please?"
"In my opinion, the weather is perfect for a picnic today."
10 Quotes Using My
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, my acts being seven ages." (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)
"Elementary, my dear Watson." (Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." (Martin Luther King Jr., 1963)
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Oh, and my bad, forgot to mention that." (Neil Armstrong, 1969 - often misquoted; original did not include "Oh, and my bad, forgot to mention that.")
"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes. My life is my message." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine." (Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell, 1940)
"To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovered country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.—Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." (William Ernest Henley, "Invictus")
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." (Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, 1939)
"I regret that I have but one life to give for my country." (Nathan Hale, 1776)
Etymology
The word "my" has a pretty straightforward and ancient origin, tracing back through the history of the English language.
Basically, "my" is a shortened version of "mine."
Ancient Roots: It started way back in a very old language called Proto-Indo-European, which is like the great-grandparent of many languages spoken today. In that language, there was a word something like "méynos" which meant "my" or "mine."
Proto-Germanic: This evolved into Proto-Germanic (the ancestor of English, German, Dutch, etc.), where it became something like "mīnaz." This word covered both "my" and "mine."
Old English: In Old English (the earliest form of English), this word was "mīn." At this point, "mīn" was used for both the possessive before a noun (like "mīn bōc" meaning "my book") and as a standalone possessive (like "the book is mīn" meaning "the book is mine").
Middle English: Around the 12th century (the Middle English period), a change started happening. When "mīn" came before a word that began with a consonant, it often got shortened to "mi" or "my." So, you'd say "my father" but still "mine enemy" (because "enemy" starts with a vowel sound). Over time, "my" became the standard form to use before all nouns, while "mine" was reserved for when the word stood alone (like "that book is mine").
So, the first known use of "my" in its shortened form, specifically when preceding a word starting with a consonant, dates back to around 1175. Its meaning has consistently been "belonging to me" or "associated with me."
Phrases + Idioms Containing My
My bad: An informal way to admit a mistake.
My treat: Indicating that the speaker will pay for something.
My way or the highway: An ultimatum, implying that things must be done according to one's own methods or the other person must leave.
On my account: Because of me; for my sake.
To my mind: In my opinion.
Speak my mind: To express one's thoughts frankly and directly.
My cup of tea: Something one particularly likes or enjoys. (Often used in the negative: "Not my cup of tea.")
Bite my tongue: To stop oneself from saying something, often something negative.
Keep my chin up: To remain cheerful in difficult circumstances.
In my humble opinion (IMHO): A phrase often used in online communication to introduce a personal opinion, sometimes ironically.
Cross my heart (and hope to die): A solemn promise or vow.
By my reckoning: According to my calculations or judgment.
My two cents: One's opinion or advice, offered humbly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of my from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
