my

¹ American  

[mahy] / maɪ /

pronoun

1. (a form of the possessive case of I used as an attributive adjective).

   My soup is cold.

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interjection

1. Also (used as an exclamation of mild surprise or dismay).

   My, what a big house this is! My-my, how old he looks!

my- ² American  

1. variant of myo- before some vowels.

   myalgia.

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my ¹ British  

/ 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!

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interjection

1. an exclamation of surprise, awe, etc

   my, how you've grown!

MY ² British  

abbreviation

1. motor yacht

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my ³ British  

abbreviation

1. Malaysia

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my- ⁴ British  

combining form

1. a variant of myo-

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Grammar

See me.

Usage

What does my- mean? My- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “muscle.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy. My- comes from the Greek mŷs, meaning “muscle” and “mouse.” Mouse? You read that right. Discover why at our entry for muscle!My- is a variant of myo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use myo- article.

Etymology

Origin of my

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English mī, variant of mīn, Old English mīn; mine ¹

Example Sentences

I am in my late 60s, and my husband is in his early 70s.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

“Rory was one of my idols growing up,” Howell said, “so it’ll be a super special moment for me.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

In fact, I was pushing for Fury as an opponent before we announced my upcoming fight with Daniel Dubois.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

All this is to say that I feel pressured by my husband’s diagnosis, I am running out of time — and overwhelmed trying to plan an extended trip while also considering the costs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Because of how tightly my backpack is wedged, Ben waves the people behind us to go on ahead.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith