derselbe
the same
Refers to the person or thing already mentioned or shown and emphasizes that it is the same one, not another.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben gestern denselben Zug genommen.
We took the same train yesterday.
derselbe
same
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Meanings
derselbe
the same
Refers to a person or thing mentioned previously and then discussed further; this usage often sounds formal or literary.
EXAMPLE
Er schrieb an den Direktor und bat denselben um einen Termin.
He wrote to the director and asked him for an appointment.
ein und derselbe
one and the same
Emphasizes that two seemingly different people or things are actually one single person or thing.
EXAMPLE
Der Autor und der Übersetzer sind ein und derselbe.
The author and the translator are one and the same.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry derselbe, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
The four cases
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | derselbe | dieselbe | dasselbe | dieselben |
| acc. | denselben | dieselbe | dasselbe | dieselben |
| dat. | demselben | derselben | demselben | denselben |
| gen. | desselben | derselben | desselben | derselben |
Usage tips
Sentence patterns
'Derselbe' (the same) can come before a noun or be used on its own as a pronoun. When it comes before a noun, its form depends on the noun and its role in the sentence; when used on its own, it refers to a person or thing that is already known.
EXAMPLE
Meine Schwester und ich gehen auf dieselbe Schule.
My sister and I go to the same school.
Seit dem Unfall ist er nicht mehr derselbe.
He hasn't been the same since the accident.
Typical collocations
Common fixed expressions with 'derselbe' (the same) refer to times: 'am selben Tag' (on the same day), 'zur selben Zeit' (at the same time), and 'im selben Jahr' (in the same year). After 'am', 'zur', or 'im', only 'selben' is used because the article has merged with the preposition: 'am selben Tag' means 'an demselben Tag' (on the same day). These expressions refer to an identical time, not merely a similar one.
EXAMPLE
Am selben Tag erhielt sie noch eine zweite Nachricht.
She received a second message on the same day.
Zur selben Zeit begann draußen ein heftiger Regen.
At the same time, heavy rain began outside.
Reference to an antecedent
As a standalone pronoun, 'derselbe' (the same) can refer back in a following sentence to a person or thing mentioned previously. This usage is especially common in written, official, or legal texts and often follows a preposition.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben Ihr Schreiben erhalten und werden zu demselben in Kürze Stellung nehmen.
We have received your letter and will respond to it shortly.
Die Behörde nannte den Verantwortlichen und verlangte von demselben eine Stellungnahme.
The authority named the person responsible and demanded a statement from him.
Fixed expression
The expression 'ein und derselbe' (one and the same) usually comes after 'sein' (to be) and emphasizes that two designations refer to exactly one person or thing. Its form changes to agree with the noun being referred to.
EXAMPLE
Der unbekannte Anrufer und der Verfasser des Briefes waren ein und derselbe.
The unknown caller and the author of the letter were one and the same.
Die Gründerin und die Geschäftsführerin sind ein und dieselbe.
The founder and the managing director are one and the same.
In real life
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