language note: My is the first person singular possessive determiner.
1. determiner
A speaker or writer uses my to indicate that something belongs or relates to himself or herself.
I invited him back to my flat for a coffee.
John's my best friend.
I received a bill for the car rental from my credit card company.
My understanding was that we'd meet at her place.
2. determiner
In conversations or in letters, my is used in front of a word like 'dear' or 'darling' to show affection.
[feelings]
My sweet Freda.
Yes, of course, my darling.
3. determiner
My is used in phrases such as 'My God' and 'My goodness' to express surprise or shock.
[spoken, feelings]
My God, I've never seen you so nervous.
My goodness, Tim, you have changed!
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more,they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarPossessivesPossessives are used to specify the ownership of an item, or, if the noun refers tosomething animate, to specify a relationship. That is my car. Mr Smith ... Read more
my in British English1
(maɪ)
determiner
1.
of, belonging to, or associated with the speaker or writer (me)
my own ideas
do you mind my smoking?
2.
used in various forms of address
my lord
my dear boy
3.
used in various exclamations
my goodness!
exclamation
4.
an exclamation of surprise, awe, etc
my, how you've grown!
Word origin
C12 mī, variant of Old English mīn when preceding a word beginning with a consonant
my in British English2
the internet domain name for
Malaysia
MY in British English
abbreviation for
motor yacht
my- in British English
combining form
a variant of myo-
My in American English
May
my in American English
(maɪ)
possessive pronominal adjective
1.
of, belonging to, made by, or done by me
also used before some formal titles and polite forms of address
My Lord, my dear Mr. Brown
interjection
2.
used to express surprise, dismay, disbelief, etc.
often in combination with other words
oh, my! my goodness! my eye!
Word origin
ME mi, shortened form of min used before consonants < OE min, of me, my, mine: see mine2, me
my- in American English
(maɪ)
myo-
used before a vowel
Examples of 'my' in a sentence
my
I wouldn't do anything to harm my relationship with Marianne.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
The weight of it had the effect of making me aware of my own breathing.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
I thought about getting married: I realised that I actually wanted to, for the first time in my life.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
This sidebar is interrupting my cross-examination of a critical witness.
Lisa Scottoline RUNNING FROM THE LAW (2001)
Our whole futures are on the line here, your future, my- ' `I don't know- ' `Please, Charlie.
( with happiness ) 我的心狂跳不已 wǒ de xīn kuáng tiào bùyǐ
my heart melted
我的心软(軟)了 wǒ de xīn ruǎn le
my/his anatomy
( body ) 我/他的身体(體) wǒ/tā de shēntǐ
take my advice
( inf ) 听(聽)我的劝(勸)告 tīng wǒ de quàngào
that's my house
那是我的房子 nà shì wǒde fángzi
at/to my house
在/到我家 zài/dào wǒjiā
for my/his part
就我/他来(來)说(說) jiù wǒ/tā lái shuō
I rest my case
( hum ) 我无(無)需多说(說)了 wǒ wúxū duō shuō le
in my mind's eye
在我的想象中 zài wǒ de xiǎngxiàng zhōng
in my/your area
在我/你住的地区(區) zài wǒ/nǐ zhù de dìqū ⇒ The schools in our area are terrible. → 我们所住地区的学校很糟糕。 Wǒmen suǒ zhù dìqū de xuéxiào hěn zāogāo.
my head's spinning
我头(頭)昏脑(腦)胀 wǒ tóu hūn nǎo zhàng
my name is Peter
我叫彼得 wǒ jiào Bǐdé
never in my life
我从(從)未 wǒ cóngwèi ⇒ Never in my life have I seen anyone drink as much as you. → 我从未见过任何人有你这么能喝酒。 Wǒ cóngwèi jiànguo rènhé rén yǒu nǐ zhème néng hē jiǔ.
on my/his behalf
代表我/他 dàibiǎo wǒ/tā
that's my business
那是我自己的事 nà shì wǒ zìjǐ de shì
to my astonishment
令我吃惊(驚)的是 lìng wǒ chījīng de shì
to my delight ...
令我高兴(興)的是 ... lìng wǒ gāoxìng de shì ...
a room of my own
我自己的房间(間) wǒ zìjǐ de fángjiān
do it for my sake!
看在我的情分上做吧！ Kàn zài wǒ de qíngfèn shang zuò ba!
in my younger days
在我年轻(輕)的时(時)候 zài wǒ niánqīng de shíhou
in my/her opinion
按我的/她的意见(見) àn wǒ de/tā de yìjiàn
it slipped my mind
我忘了 wǒ wàng le
it's my turn to ...
轮(輪)到我做 ... lúndào wǒ zuò ...
it's past my bedtime
已经(經)过(過)了我的就寝(寢)时(時)间(間) yǐjīng guòle wǒ de jiùqǐn shíjiān
much to my amusement
令我十分开(開)心的是 lìng wǒ shífēn kāixīn de shì
much to my dismay
颇(頗)令我失望 pō lìng wǒ shīwàng
my back's killing me
( inf ) 我的背疼死了 wǒ de bèi téng sǐ le
my ears are ringing
我耳中嗡嗡作响(響) wǒ ěr zhōng wēngwēng zuòxiǎng
my head is reeling
我头(頭)昏脑(腦)胀(脹) wǒ tóu hūn nǎo zhàng
my head is swimming
我头(頭)晕(暈) wǒ tóuyūn
my nose is bleeding
我流鼻血了 wǒ liú bíxuè le
over my dead body!
( inf ) 绝(絕)对(對)不行！ juéduì bù xíng!
this is my mother
这(這)是我妈(媽)妈(媽) zhèshì wǒ māma
to my disappointment
令我失望的是 lìng wǒ shīwàng de shì
here's my phone number
这(這)是我的电(電)话(話)号(號)码(碼) zhè shì wǒ de diànhuà hàomǎ