Lesson 193: Using the possessive, altrui

You might have encountered this little possessive adjective, altrui, and wondered what it means and how it is used. Altrui means of others (di altri), other people's..., or someone else's and is an invariable possessive (which means that it doesn't change form because of gender or number) that refers to an undefined and unknown number of possessors.

It always refers only to people, and it typically follows the noun it modifies:

• Mia madre mi dice sempre che devo evitare i problemi altrui.
  My mother always tells me that I have to avoid the problems of others.
  
  
• Non mi piace fumare in casa altrui.
  I don't like to smoke at other people's houses.
  
  
• Madre: Dani, non toccare la roba altrui!
  Danilo: M'spiace, mamma!
  
  Mother: Dani, don't touch other people's things.
  Danilo: Sorry, mom!