The possessive suffix is an feature unique to Finno-Ugric languages. It has the same function as possessive pronouns do when indicating ownership. For example, Finnish has this set of possessive suffixes:

It is optional, not mandatory as in English, to use pronouns in the genitive with these words, e.g. minun taloni means "my house" with or without the minun ("I's"). The Hungarian language does not have a genitive case at all and uses only possessive suffixes to indicate ownership, that is, a construction like "Maria book-(her)" = "Maria's book".