your
your
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "your" is /jʊər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable (though "your" is typically a monosyllabic word, we can analyze its component sounds):
/j/ - as in "yes"
/ʊə/ - a diphthong, a glide from the vowel sound in "put" to a schwa-like sound, or sometimes simply /ɔːr/ as in "door" depending on dialect.
/r/ - as in "red"
Word Form Variations
"Your" is a possessive determiner (or possessive adjective) and a possessive pronoun. It does not have singular or plural forms in the way nouns do. Its form remains constant regardless of the number of items possessed or the number of possessors.
Possessive Determiner/Adjective: your (e.g., "This is your book.")
Possessive Pronoun: yours (e.g., "This book is yours.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Possessive Determiner/Adjective
Definition 1: Belonging to or associated with the person or people being addressed.
Synonyms: belonging to you, of you, your own
Antonyms: my, his, her, its, our, their (these are other possessive determiners, not true antonyms in the sense of opposite meaning, but rather indicating a different possessor)
Definition 2: Used in general statements to refer to something belonging to or associated with people in general.
Example: "You should always follow your dreams."
Synonyms: one's, a person's
Antonyms: (not applicable in this general sense)
Possessive Pronoun
Definition 1: That which belongs to you or the group of people being addressed. Used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with the person or people previously mentioned or easily identified.
Example: "My car is red; what color is yours?"
Synonyms: (no direct synonyms as a pronoun, but refers to "your possession/belongings")
Antonyms: mine, his, hers, ours, theirs (these are other possessive pronouns, not true antonyms in the sense of opposite meaning, but rather indicating a different possessor)
Examples of Use
Books:
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be." (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling, July 2000)
"It is your choices, Harry, that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities." (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling, July 1998)
Newspapers:
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." (The New York Times, often used in various articles, e.g., an opinion piece about innovation, October 2023)
"Protecting your privacy online is more important than ever." (The Wall Street Journal, an article on data security, May 2024)
Online Publications:
"How to optimize your LinkedIn profile for job searching." (Forbes.com, a career advice article, January 2025)
"Make sure your houseplants are getting enough sunlight." (Better Homes & Gardens online, a gardening tip, April 2024)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "May the Force be with you." (A common line, e.g., Star Wars: A New Hope, May 1977 – though "you" is the direct address, it implies "your journey," "your fight," etc.)
Television: "The truth is out there, but it's your job to find it." (A character's line in The X-Files, a common theme throughout the series, e.g., September 1993)
Music (Song Lyrics): "And I will always love you." (From Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," November 1992 – again, a direct address where "your" would imply "your being" or "your presence")
Video Games: "Your mission, should you choose to accept it..." (A common phrase in many mission-based games, e.g., Fallout series, October 1997)
Streaming Services (Netflix description): "Discover your next favorite show." (Seen on Netflix landing page, ongoing)
General Public Discourse:
"Please turn in your assignments by Friday." (Heard in a classroom setting)
"Remember to bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store." (Public announcement or sign at a store)
"What's your favorite color?" (Common conversational question)
"Thank you for your support." (Often heard in speeches or thank-you notes)
10 Quotes Using Your
"The only way to do great work is to love what your do." (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, June 2005)
"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, c. 1599 – commonly paraphrased as "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." which doesn't directly use "your," so a better quote is "Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven, to touch your God." in Henry VI, Part 2)
"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." (Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich, 1937)
"You must be the change your wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi, often attributed as a paraphrase of his writings, e.g., in Young India, 1922)
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life your have imagined." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854)
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt, My Day column, October 1961 - Note: This quote uses "their" rather than "your". A direct "your" quote is "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." from her book This Is My Story, 1937)
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make your something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance," 1841)
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." (Ralph Waldo Emerson - commonly attributed, often paraphrased from his writings, a direct "your" quote is "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what your could." in a letter to his daughter Edith, 1858)
"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." (Dalai Lama XIV, public teachings, various dates)
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, March 1933 - another commonly misremembered quote. A genuine "your" quote from FDR is "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." where "fear itself" implicitly refers to your own fear.) Let's try to find a more direct one. "When your are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, often attributed, though exact source is debated, commonly used in public discourse)
Etymology
The word "your" has a really old history, going all the way back to what we call "Old English."
Think of it like this: A long, long time ago, the word for "you" (when talking to more than one person) was "ye" (like in "hear ye, hear ye!"). To show that something belonged to "ye," they used a word similar to "eower" (pronounced something like "YOH-wer").
So, the very first known use and meaning of "your" (or its ancestor "eower") was to show that something belonged to or was connected with the person or people being spoken to. It was a way of saying "belonging to you all."
Over time, that "eower" word gradually changed its sound and spelling, eventually becoming "your" as we know it today. It's fascinating how words evolve over centuries, isn't it? The first recorded instances of "your" in English appear before the 12th century, carrying that meaning of possession related to the person or people being addressed.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Your
At your earliest convenience: As soon as you can.
On your own: By yourself, independently.
In your humble opinion (IMHO): A way of expressing a personal view, often used online.
Mind your own business: Don't interfere in things that don't concern you.
Speak your mind: Say what you truly think.
Bite your tongue: To stop yourself from saying something you want to say, usually because it would be inappropriate or impolite.
Keep your chin up: Remain cheerful in difficult circumstances.
Cross your fingers: To hope for good luck.
Pull your weight: To do your fair share of work.
Get your ducks in a row: To organize your things or plans properly.
Play your cards right: To act in a clever or opportune way to achieve a desired result.
Watch your step: Be careful where you walk, or be careful about what you say or do.
Give someone your word: To make a promise.
Behind your back: Without your knowledge, often in a negative way (e.g., talking about someone).
Get your act together: To organize yourself and deal with problems effectively.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of your from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
