The determiner is pronounced /hɪz/. The pronoun is pronounced /hɪz/.
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: 'His' is a third person singular possessive determiner. 'His' is also a possessive pronoun.
1.
You use his to indicate that something belongs or relates to a man, boy, or male animal.
Brian splashed water on his face, then brushed his teeth...
He spent a large part of his career in Hollywood...
The dog let his head thump on the floor again.
DET
•
His is also a possessive pronoun.
Anna reached out her hand to him and clasped his.
PRON
2.
In written English, his is sometimes used to refer to a person without saying whether that person is a man or a woman. Some people dislike this use and prefer to use ‘his or her’ or ‘their’.
Formerly, the relations between a teacher and his pupils were dominated by fear on the part of the pupils...
DET
•
His is also a possessive pronoun.
The student going to art or drama school will be very enthusiastic about further education. His is not a narrow mind, but one eager to grasp every facet of anything he studies.
PRON