vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"De" is a form of "de", a preposition which is often translated as "from". "Su" is an adjective which is often translated as "his". Learn more about the difference between "de" and "su" below.
de(
deh
)
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
preposition
a. from
Mis padres vienen de Nicaragua.My parents are from Nicaragua.
a. of
Esta mesa está hecha de plástico.This table is made of plastic.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Te recojo en el coche de mi padre.I'll come get you in my father's car.
¿Esa no es la casa de Susana?Isn't that Susana's house?
a. of
La comida era de gran calidad.The food was of great quality.
a. of
Andrés siempre llevaba una bolsa de canicas.Andres always carried around a bag of marbles.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Voy a comprar otro traje de baño para el verano.I'm going to buy another bathing suit for the summer.
Se usa la palanca de cambios para cambiar las marchas.You use the gear shift to change the gears.
a. in
Es mejor trabajar de mañana.It is better to work in the morning.
a. with
Me sorprendí llorando de pena al pensar en él.I caught myself crying with sorrow when I thought of him.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. d
¿Dijiste la letra de o te?Did you say the letter d or t?
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
su(
soo
)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. his
A word or phrase that is masculine (e.g., el libro).
(masculine)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
¿Hiciste su tarea por él?Did you do his homework for him?
b. her
A word or phrase that is feminine (e.g., la manzana).
(feminine)
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
¿Sabes dónde está el cargador de su teléfono?Do you know where the charger is for her phone?
c. its
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
(singular)
Esta es su perrera.This is its doghouse.
d. their
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
(plural)
Esa es su cena. No la comas.That is their dinner. Don't eat it.
2.
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
(formal)
(possessive; second person singular)
a. your
Nuestra casa es su casa.Our house is your house.
a. your
¿A qué hora vendrá a recogerlos su mamá?What time is your mom picking you up?
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.