selbe
/ˈzɛlbə/determiner★Beginner
formalinformal
Used to refer to an identical thing or person already mentioned or understood.
Sie trägt heute das selbe Kleid wie gestern.
She is wearing the same dress today as yesterday.
💡
Often used with 'das' (neuter) or 'die' (feminine) to specify the same object or person.
Collocations
das selbethe samedie selbethe same
Synonyms
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'gleich'
'Selbe' refers to exact identity, while 'gleich' can mean 'equal' or 'similar'.
📖Word Origin
From Middle High German 'selbe', meaning 'same'.
📝Usage Notes
'Selbe' is a determiner and is always used with a definite article ('das selbe', 'die selbe'). It emphasizes identity rather than similarity.
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