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

For my family, having kids who were U.S. citizens by birth was never about exploiting loopholes or taking advantage of taxpayers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

We just survived March 2026, one of the most chaotic and freakish months in my lifetime, and probably yours too.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Perplexity ruled out infection, based on my recent lab results.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

One of them was my mother, María de la Luz.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

I tried to flip over, but the pain in my right leg was too much, and the rest of my body stung because a cactus had left its points in me.

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