You may see “their” in a sentence and wonder whether it refers to one person, several people, or something that belongs to them. The basic their meaning is possessive: it shows that something belongs to, relates to, or is associated with someone or some people. For example, “The students forgot their books” means the books belong to the students. Today, “their” can also refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when they use they/them pronouns. Understanding the surrounding sentence makes it easy to identify how “their” is being used.
What Does “Their” Mean?
“Their” is a possessive word used to show that something belongs to or is connected with people or, in many modern uses, one person. It is commonly followed by a noun, such as “their car,” “their idea,” or “their phone.” Unlike “there” and “they’re,” “their” expresses possession or association.
| Detail | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Belonging to or associated with them |
| Grammar | Possessive determiner |
| Common use | “Their house,” “their opinion,” “their friends” |
| Can refer to | Multiple people or one person |
| Formal or informal | Standard English |
The Main “Their” Meaning in English
The most common their meaning in text is “belonging to them.” It tells you who owns something or who something is connected to.
For example:
“The children left their shoes outside.”
Here, “their” shows that the shoes belong to the children.
“Their” usually appears directly before a noun:
- their house
- their parents
- their teacher
- their decision
- their favorite song
- their responsibilities
It can describe physical ownership, but possession is not limited to objects. You can also use “their” for relationships, opinions, responsibilities, characteristics, and experiences.
For example, “The company changed their policy” connects the policy with the company, while “Everyone has their own opinion” connects the opinion with each person.
Their as a Possessive Determiner
In traditional grammar, “their” is called a possessive determiner because it comes before a noun and identifies who something belongs to.
Compare these sentences:
- “They brought their bags.”
- “I like their idea.”
- “The players celebrated their victory.”
In each sentence, “their” modifies the noun that follows it.
There is also a related possessive form, “theirs.” The difference is simple:
- “That is their car.”
- “That car is theirs.”
“Their” comes before a noun, while “theirs” normally stands on its own.
Their Meaning When Referring to One Person
One of the most important modern uses of “their” is as a singular, gender-neutral possessive.
If you do not know someone’s gender, you can use “their” instead of choosing “his” or “her.”
For example:
“Someone left their umbrella in the lobby.”
The word “someone” refers to one person, but the person’s identity or gender is unknown. “Their” allows the sentence to remain natural without making an unnecessary assumption.
You can also use singular “their” when a person uses they/them pronouns:
“Jordan said their presentation is ready.”
Here, “their” refers to Jordan, one individual.
This use is now common in everyday English and is also found in many formal contexts. The key point is that “their” does not always mean multiple people.
Their vs. There vs. They’re
“Their,” “there,” and “they’re” sound alike in many varieties of English, but they have different meanings and grammatical roles.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Their | Shows possession or association | “Their dog is friendly.” |
| There | Refers to a place or introduces something | “The dog is over there.” |
| They’re | Short for “they are” | “They’re outside.” |
A useful test is to replace “they’re” with “they are.” If the sentence still works, “they’re” is probably correct.
For “their,” look for a noun that belongs to or is associated with someone.
Incorrect: “They’re house is large.”
Correct: “Their house is large.”
The confusion is understandable because the three words can sound nearly identical when spoken. In writing, however, their meanings are clearly different.
How Context Changes the Meaning of “Their”
The exact person or people represented by “their” usually comes from the surrounding sentence.
Consider these examples:
“The teachers finished their meeting.”
“Their” refers to multiple teachers.
“Someone forgot their wallet.”
“Their” refers to one unspecified person.
“Alex brought their laptop.”
“Their” refers to Alex, who may use they/them pronouns or whose gender is not being specified.
“The team celebrated their win.”
“Their” refers to the members of the team collectively.
The surrounding noun or pronoun usually provides enough information to understand the reference. If the sentence is unclear, the writer may need to provide additional context.
Their Meaning in Text and Online Chats
In texts, social media posts, comments, and chats, “their” generally keeps its standard English meaning. It is not normally a special texting abbreviation or internet slang term.
For example:
“They posted their new photos.”
Here, “their” simply indicates that the photos belong to or are associated with “they.”
You may also see singular “their” frequently in casual online conversations:
“Someone said they lost their phone.”
The informal setting does not create a different definition. Instead, the same grammatical word is being used naturally in digital communication.
Their Meaning on Social Media
On platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, and messaging apps, “their” generally means the same thing it does in standard English.
For example:
“I saw their post yesterday.”
The word identifies whose post was seen.
Because social media conversations often use singular “they,” you may also encounter sentences such as:
“I wonder what their username is.”
In that sentence, “their” can refer to one person whose gender is unknown or intentionally unspecified.
Real Conversation Examples
1: Friends
Person A: “Did Maya bring her camera?”
Person B: “No, I think she left their camera at home.”
Meaning: In this example, “their” would refer to a person identified earlier as using they/them pronouns; if Maya uses she/her pronouns, “her” would normally be expected instead.
2: Group Chat
Person A: “The neighbors are having a party.”
Person B: “Yeah, I saw their decorations.”
Meaning: “Their” refers to the neighbors and shows that the decorations are associated with them.
3: Unknown Person
Person A: “Someone called while you were out.”
Person B: “Did they leave their number?”
Meaning: “Their” refers to the unspecified person who called.
Is “Their” Singular or Plural?
“Their” can be either singular or plural depending on the context.
When it refers to several people, the use is straightforward:
“The students submitted their assignments.”
When it refers to one person, it is called singular “they” usage:
“Each applicant should bring their identification.”
The grammatical number of “their” therefore cannot always be determined by the word itself. You need to look at the person or group it refers to.
This is one reason older grammar rules that associate “their” exclusively with plural subjects do not fully describe how modern English is used.
Is “Their” Formal or Informal?
“Their” is a standard English word and is appropriate in both informal and formal writing.
You can use it in:
- Text messages
- Emails
- School assignments
- Business writing
- News writing
- Everyday conversation
- Academic writing
What matters is using it correctly within the sentence.
For formal writing, clarity is especially important. If “their” could refer to several different people, rewriting the sentence may make your meaning easier to understand.
When to Use “Their”
Use “their” when you want to show possession, association, or a relationship involving people.
It works naturally when:
- Something belongs to multiple people.
- Something belongs to one person who uses they/them pronouns.
- A person’s gender is unknown or irrelevant.
- A group is being treated collectively.
- You want to avoid unnecessarily specifying someone’s gender.
For example:
“Every customer should keep their receipt.”
This sentence avoids assuming whether each customer is male or female.
When to Avoid “Their”
There is no general rule that says you should avoid “their” in formal communication. However, avoid using it when the reference is genuinely confusing.
For example:
“Sarah told Emily that their manager called.”
Who does “their” refer to—Sarah or Emily?
A clearer version might be:
“Sarah told Emily that Sarah’s manager called.”
or:
“Sarah told Emily that Emily’s manager called.”
The problem is not the word “their” itself. The problem is ambiguity.
Common Mistakes With “Their”
| Common Mistake | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|
| Using “their” when you mean “they are” | Use “they’re” when it can be replaced with “they are.” |
| Confusing “their” with “there” | “Their” shows possession; “there” commonly refers to a place. |
| Assuming “their” always refers to several people | Singular “their” can refer to one person. |
Another common mistake is writing “their’s.” This spelling is incorrect in standard English. The independent possessive form is “theirs,” without an apostrophe.
For example:
Correct: “The blue car is theirs.”
Incorrect: “The blue car is their’s.”
Similar Words to “Their”
| Term | Meaning | Main Difference |
|---|---|---|
| They | Refers to people | Subject or pronoun, not possessive |
| Them | Refers to people receiving an action | Object form |
| Theirs | Shows possession | Usually stands without a following noun |
| There | Often refers to a place | Not a possessive form |
| They’re | Means “they are” | Contraction, not possession |
Understanding these differences makes it much easier to use “their” correctly.
Their Meaning: Quick Recap
- “Their” primarily shows possession, association, or connection.
- It can refer to multiple people or one person.
- Singular “their” is commonly used with singular “they.”
- “Their” is different from “there” and “they’re.”
- Context tells you exactly who or what “their” refers to.
- “Theirs” is the independent possessive form, while “their” normally comes before a noun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “their” mean in text?
“Their” shows possession or association and can refer to multiple people or one person in singular “they” usage.
Is “their” singular or plural?
“Their” can be singular or plural, depending on whether it refers to one person or multiple people.
What does “their” mean in grammar?
“Their” is a possessive determiner that identifies something as belonging to or associated with someone.
Is “their” the same as “they’re”?
No, “their” indicates possession, while “they’re” is the contraction of “they are.”
Can “their” refer to one person?
Yes, “their” can refer to one person when using singular “they” or when gender remains unspecified.
Final Thoughts
The basic their meaning is possession or association, but the word can refer to either multiple people or one person. In modern English, singular “their” is especially useful when someone uses they/them pronouns or when a person’s gender is unknown or irrelevant. Remember that “their,” “there,” and “they’re” have different grammatical roles, even though they sound similar. Pay attention to the surrounding words to understand exactly who “their” refers to. Once you recognize that context, using and interpreting “their” becomes straightforward in texts, conversations, social media, and formal writing.
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