derselbe / dieselbe / dasselbe
Translation
the same
Examples
Wir wohnen im selben Haus.
We live in the same house.
Er hat denselben Fehler gemacht.
He made the same mistake.
Grammar Patterns
((in+dat)) in the same... We are in the same boat.
((with+dat)) with the same... She is writing with the same pen.
Similar Words
Difference to 'gleich': 'dasselbe' refers to the one and only identical item (e.g., we share the very same car), while 'das gleiche' refers to an identical copy (e.g., we drive the same model of car).
Etymology
Composed of 'der' (the) + 'selbe' (same). 'Selbe' is related to the English word 'self', implying the 'self-same' or identical item.
Memory Tips
Think of it as two parts: 'der/die/das' which declines like a definite article, and 'selbe' which takes weak adjective endings.