derselbe

• ders. (abbreviation)
• der selbe

Univerbation of der +‎ selbe.

• IPA^(key): /deːɐ̯ˈzɛlbə/ (official standard)
• IPA^(key): /dɛɐ̯ˈzɛlbə/ (normal)

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: der‧sel‧be

derselbe (demonstrative)

1. the same
2. selfsame
3. idem

derselbe

1. the same
2. selfsame

• 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.

• gleich
• selber

• “derselbe” in Duden online
• “derselbe” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache