Jump to:

• my
  my

  pronoun

  (a form of the possessive case of I used as an attributive adjective).
• my-
  my-

  variant of myo- before some vowels.
• MY
  MY

  abbreviation

  motor yacht

my

¹ American  

[mahy] / maɪ /

pronoun

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

   My soup is cold.

---

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.

---

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!

---

interjection

1. an exclamation of surprise, awe, etc

   my, how you've grown!

MY ² British  

abbreviation

1. motor yacht

---

my ³ British  

abbreviation

1. Malaysia

---

my- ⁴ British  

combining form

1. a variant of myo-

---

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; see mine ¹

Example Sentences

I prefer my “eggs” drier and firmer, so I’ll usually cook the tofu for an additional two to three minutes.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

"I'm incredibly proud of myself. I think it was one of the most difficult matches of my career."

From BBC • May 24, 2026

"I came out of the building and saw the devastation and my car was completely damaged."

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

“I’ve lost more than 100 people from my family alone,” she said, her voice rising in anger for a moment before reverting to the monotone she normally spoke in.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

I try to fold over myself, kicking the stick shift and somehow managing both to knee myself in the chin and whack my foot against Dara’s arm.

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