When a noun has a definite article (like "the brother"), possessive words attach directly to it (fratele meu). But what if you want to say "an uncle of mine" or "the laptop is mine"?
For these, Romanian uses a linking word called the possessive article. It is required whenever the possessive word cannot attach directly to a definite noun.
The possessive article must agree in gender and number with the object being owned, not the owner.
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|
| Masculine | al | ai |
| Feminine | a | ale |
| Neuter | al | ale |
Indefinite Nouns: "Of mine", "Of his"
To express "a [noun] of [mine/yours/etc.]", use an indefinite article (un or o), the noun, the matching possessive article, and finally the possessive word (meu, tău, lui, ei, lor).
Predicative Use: "Is mine", "Is yours"
When stating that something belongs to someone after the verb "to be" (a fi), you also must use the possessive article. Think of it as holding the place of the noun so you don't have to repeat it.
Plural Possessions: "ai" and "ale"
When the objects being owned are plural, use ai for masculine nouns and ale for feminine and neuter nouns. Remember that neuter nouns (like cadou / gift) act masculine in the singular (al) and feminine in the plural (ale).