unser
our
Unser is the possessive pronoun meaning 'our'. It changes its ending to match the gender, case, and number of the noun it describes. It is used to show that something belongs to us.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where unser was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Unsere Peppa ist krank.Our Peppa is sick.
- Schaut, da ist unsere Frau Mimmel.Look, there's our Mrs. Mimmel.
- Ja, das ist unsere Wippe.Yes, this is our seesaw.
Example sentences
- Unser Haus ist groß.Our house is big.
- Wir lieben unsere Familie.We love our family.
- Das ist unser Auto.That is our car.
- Wir helfen unserem Vater.We are helping our father.
Grammar
| Type | Possessive pronoun |
|---|---|
| Declension | unser, unsere, unser, unsere (nominative); unseres, unserer, unseres, unserer (genitive); unserem, unserer, unserem, unseren (dative); unseren, unsere, unser, unsere (accusative) |
| Note | Endings follow the same pattern as the definite article (der/die/das), except in the nominative masculine and neuter, and accusative neuter, where there is no ending. |
The base form 'unser' drops the 'e' before adding endings in some cases, e.g., 'unsrem' or 'unsern' are colloquial, but standard forms are 'unserem', 'unseren', etc.
Common phrases
- unser beiderof both of us
- unseres Wissensto our knowledge
- unser tägliches Brotour daily bread
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often forget to add the correct ending to 'unser' based on the noun's gender and case, saying 'unser Mutter' instead of 'unsere Mutter'.
Don’t confuse it with
- uns — 'Uns' is the personal pronoun 'us' (accusative or dative), while 'unser' is the possessive pronoun 'our'.
Questions learners ask
How do you decline 'unser'?
It follows the same endings as the definite article: unser (nom. masc.), unsere (nom. fem.), unser (nom. neut.), unsere (nom. pl.), and so on for other cases.
What is the difference between 'unser' and 'unsere'?
'Unser' is used for masculine and neuter nouns in the nominative case, and neuter in accusative, while 'unsere' is used for feminine and plural nouns in nominative and accusative.
Is 'unser' ever used without a noun?
Yes, it can be used as a pronoun, e.g., 'Das ist unseres' meaning 'That is ours', with the ending depending on the gender of the noun it replaces.