our | TKG English Learner's Dictionary

ourdeterminer

American /aʊr/ British /aʊə/ also /ˈaʊ.ər/ a fuller, two-syllable form, heard especially in careful or slow speech In fast speech, our is often said much like are.

very commondefining vocabulary

belonging to usbelonging to or connected with the speaker and at least one other person
Our goes directly before a noun and does not change for a plural noun: our house, our neighbors. The same idea used alone, without a following noun, is a different word, ours (this house is ours), a separate entry.
- Our flight leaves at six in the morning.
- We invited our neighbors to the party.
- This has always been our favorite restaurant.
- Our team won the game last night.
Compare my

Word family

Usage

Our never changes for number: our house, our houses. The independent possessive, used without a following noun, is a different word, ours (this is ours).

Common mistakes

This car is our. This car is ours.
Without a following noun, use ours; our always needs a noun after it.

See also my; ours (the independent possessive, used without a following noun: this is ours)

For translators

Grammar trap Our stays the same before a singular or plural noun; it does not agree with the noun's own gender or number, unlike the possessive forms of many other languages.

Pronunciation trap In connected speech, our is often reduced to a sound close to are; in careful speech it usually sounds like hour.