The use of our vs. my

[wileywon]

Is it ever considered standard or proper English to refer to "my father" or "my mother" when speaking with a sibling who shares the same parents, or is "our" parent more correct in all cases?

 

[emsr2d2]

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

I would find it highly unnatural in English. I'm aware, though, that in other languages it's certainly done. I watch quite a lot of Spanish TV series and I've noticed that in conversations with siblings, "mi madre/padre" are used.

(I've moved this thread to the General Language Discussions as it's more about natural English usage rather than something that needs to be addressed by a teacher.)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Right.

And in the US, siblings talking to each other are much more likely to say "Mom and Dad," rather than "our parents": Mom and Dad are having a cookout this weekend.

 

[emsr2d2]

Right.

And in the US, siblings talking to each other are much more likely to say "Mom and Dad," rather than "our parents": Mom and Dad are having a cookout this weekend.

That's the same in the UK.

 

[GoesStation]

"Our parents" works in some contexts. "Our parents were out of the mainstream. Nobody else's parents took their kids on summer trips behind the Iron Curtain in a VW camper!"