lo mismo
/lo mismo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "same thing" is translated into Spanish as lo mismo.
lo mismo is used to refer to something that is identical to or the same as something previously mentioned. It is often used when referring to an abstract concept or an unspecified thing. You may also encounter the idiom da lo mismo, which means "it doesn't matter" or "it's all the same".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the neuter article lo (the) and the adjective mismo (same).
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between referring to an abstract concept and a specific noun. Use lo mismo when referring to an abstract concept or an unspecified "thing". However, if you are referring to a specific person or object, you should use el mismo for masculine nouns or la misma for feminine nouns (for example, el mismo hombre for "the same man").
How do you pronounce it?
/lo mismo/
Did you know?
- The word mismo is actually a linguistic 'super-extra' version of the word 'self'. It evolved from a Latin suffix used to add extreme emphasis to a word, effectively meaning 'the very, very same'.
- When ordering food in a Spanish-speaking country, saying lo mismo is the standard way to tell a server 'I will have the same thing' as the person before you.
Examples in context
- No quiero esto, quiero lo mismo.I don't want this, I want the same thing.
- Yo quiero lo mismo que ella.I want the same thing as her.
- Ellos dicen siempre lo mismo.They always say the same thing.
- No quiero lo mismo de nuevo.I don't want the same thing again.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are at a cafe deciding what to order.
- Elena¿Vas a pedir un café solo?Are you going to order a black coffee?
- JavierSí, yo quiero lo mismo que tú.Yes, I want the same thing as you.
- ElenaEstá bien, pediré dos cafés.Okay, I will order two coffees.
- JavierGracias, Elena.Thanks, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lo, mismo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
