lo mismo
/lo mismo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'the same' can be translated into Spanish as lo mismo.
lo mismo is used to mean 'the same thing' in a general or abstract sense. You may also encounter the idiomatic phrase lo mismo de siempre, which means 'the same as always' or 'the same old thing'.
Which one should you use?
Use lo mismo when you want to say 'the same thing' as a noun phrase. However, if you are modifying a specific noun, you should use el mismo or la misma, such as el mismo hombre for 'the same man'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear igualito to mean 'the same'. In Spain, igualmente is more commonly used to respond to greetings or express 'the same'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase lo mismo uses the neuter article lo to mean 'the same thing' in a general or abstract sense.
How do you pronounce it?
/lo mismo/
When do people say it?
The word igualmente can be used as a response to a greeting, compliment or wish to mean 'the same to you' or 'likewise'. Additionally, de la misma manera translates to 'in the same way'.
Did you know?
- The word mismo is actually an ancient linguistic hybrid. It comes from the combination of the Latin word ipse, meaning 'himself', and a suffix, resulting in the Vulgar Latin form metipsimus.
- While 'the same' usually implies identity, using lo mismo can sometimes function as a way to express indifference. If someone asks if you want water or juice, responding with lo mismo implies you have no preference.
- The phrase lo mismo de siempre is often used as a shorthand order in cafes to tell a waiter 'the usual'.
Examples in context
- No es lo mismo.It's not the same.Tatoeba #1622947 by Alba, translation #2006476 by Spamster
- Yo sentí lo mismo.I felt the same way.Tatoeba #1619817 by Shishir, translation #1582008 by Spamster
- Yo diría lo mismo.I'd say the same thing.Tatoeba #2828790 by marcelostockle, translation #2546731 by CK
- 165 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are deciding what to order at a café.
- AlejandroYo quiero lo mismo que tú.I want the same thing as you.
- Sofía¿Quieres un café con leche?Do you want a coffee with milk?
- AlejandroSí, lo mismo, por favor.Yes, the same, please.
- SofíaPerfecto, pediré lo mismo para los dos.Perfect, I will order the same for both of us.
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
