“Their” is the possessive form of the pronoun “they,” meaning belonging to or associated with them. It signals ownership or connection, as in “their house,” “their opinions,” or “their team.” Although it started as a strictly plural word, “their” is now also widely used to refer to a single person whose gender is unknown or unspecified, a use known as the singular they.
What does “their” mean?
“Their” is a possessive determiner. It comes before a noun to show that the noun belongs to or relates to “them.” So in “their car,” the car belongs to a group or person referred to as they. It is part of a family of related words: the subject pronoun “they,” the object pronoun “them,” the possessive “their,” the possessive form “theirs,” and the reflexive “themselves.”
How is “their” different from “there” and “they’re”?
These three words sound alike but mean very different things, and mixing them up is one of the most common writing mistakes. “Their” shows possession. “There” refers to a place or is used to state that something exists (“there is a problem”). “They’re” is a contraction of “they are.” A quick test: if you can replace the word with “they are,” use “they’re”; if you are pointing to a location, use “there”; if something belongs to someone, use “their.”
- Possession: “The students raised their hands.”
- Place: “Put the box over there.”
- Contraction: “They’re going to be late.”
Can “their” refer to just one person?
Yes. English has long lacked a simple, gender-neutral singular pronoun to match words like “someone” or “everyone,” and “their” fills that gap. In a sentence like “somebody left their umbrella,” “their” refers to one unknown person. This singular use is not new; writers have used it for over 600 years. It is also used respectfully for individuals who use “they/them” as their personal pronouns.
Is singular “their” correct grammar?
It is. Most modern dictionaries and style guides accept the singular they and, with it, singular “their.” Merriam-Webster even chose singular “they” as its 2019 Word of the Year, noting that English has needed a neutral singular pronoun for a very long time. While some traditional guides once discouraged it in formal writing, the usage is now considered standard and clear.
- Unknown person: “Each guest should bring their own chair.”
- Neutral reference: “Ask the new manager what their schedule is.”
Why does “their” matter?
Understanding “their” helps you write clearly and inclusively. It lets you avoid clunky constructions like “his or her” while keeping sentences natural. Whether you are describing what belongs to a group or referring to a single individual, “their” is a flexible, widely accepted tool in everyday English.
In summary, “their” means belonging to them. It works for groups and for single people alike, and keeping it distinct from “there” and “they’re” is key to writing it correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "their" mean?
"Their" is the possessive form of "they," meaning belonging to or associated with them, as in "their car."
What is the difference between their, there, and they're?
"Their" shows possession, "there" refers to a place, and "they're" is a contraction of "they are."
Can "their" refer to one person?
Yes. "Their" is commonly used as a gender-neutral singular, as in "each student brought their book."
Is singular "their" grammatically correct?
Yes. It has been used for centuries and is accepted by major dictionaries and most modern style guides.