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derselbe. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
derselbe, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
derselbe in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
derselbe you have here. The definition of the word
derselbe will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
derselbe, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
German
Alternative forms
Etymology
Univerbation of der + selbe.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /deːɐ̯ˈzɛlbə/ (official standard)
- IPA(key): /dɛɐ̯ˈzɛlbə/ (normal)
- Hyphenation: der‧sel‧be
Pronoun
derselbe (demonstrative)
- the same
- selfsame
- idem
Determiner
derselbe
- the same
- selfsame
Usage notes
- When preceded by a preposition that contracts with the definite article, the form selbe or selben can be written apart: zu derselben Zeit or zur selben Zeit (“at the same time”).
- derselbe should be used only when one refers to physically the same object, whereas der gleiche should be used when referring to an object of the same kind or a duplicate. For example:
- Ich habe früher dasselbe Auto gefahren. ― I used to drive this very same car.
- Ich habe früher das gleiche Auto gefahren. ― I used to drive the same kind of car.
- However, this distinction is sometimes even missed by native speakers in standard usage, let alone colloquial German.
Declension
See also
Further reading
- “derselbe” in Duden online
- “derselbe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache