el mismo
/el mismo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "the same one" is expressed as el mismo.
For a more formal and emphatic way to say "the same", you can use the adjective idéntico.
Which one should you use?
When using this word as an adjective meaning "same", it is placed before the noun. When it is used as a pronoun meaning "the same one", it is preceded by a definite article such as el, la, los or las.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender with the noun it refers to, using la misma for feminine nouns. The word mismo functions as an adjective and must match the gender and number of the noun it modifies, using forms like mismo/a/os/as.
How do you pronounce it?
/el mismo/
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, mismo can be used to express 'immediately' or 'right now', such as in the phrase ahora mismo.
- The word mismo is a linguistic 'super-stack' of emphasis. It evolved from a combination of a Latin emphatic suffix and the word for 'himself', effectively meaning 'the very very same'.
- While el mismo identifies an object, placing mismo after a subject can be used for emphasis, similar to the English 'himself' or 'myself'.
Examples in context
- Este reloj es el mismo que perdí.This clock is the same one I lost.This sentence shows how to use el mismo to identify a specific object.Tatoeba #2440785 by hayastan, translation #10041603 by espamatics
- Ese asunto es el mismo que discutimos el otro día.That matter is the same one that we discussed the other day.This sentence uses el mismo to refer to a previously discussed matter.Tatoeba #3009802 by hayastan, translation #3010236 by CM
- El departamento que tenés ahora, ¿es el mismo que tenías el año pasado?The department that you have now. Is it the same one that you had last year?This sentence uses el mismo to ask about a department.Tatoeba #3009803 by hayastan, translation #8160890 by magnificentgoddess
- Necesito el mismo libro que tienesI need the same book you have
- Es la misma casa que visitamos ayerIt's the same house we visited yesterday
- El mismo perro que vimos en el parque está aquíThe same dog we saw in the park is here
- Usé la misma excusa que túI used the same excuse as you
- Ella lleva la misma camisa que yoShe's wearing the same shirt as me
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are at a coffee shop choosing a dessert.
- Sofía¿Quieres pedir el mismo postre de ayer?Do you want to order the same dessert as yesterday?
- JavierSí, quiero el mismo de la última vez.Yes, I want the same one from last time.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo pediré algo diferente.Perfect, I will order something different.
- JavierEstá bien, voy a pedir el mismo café también.That's fine, I'm going to order the same coffee too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, mismo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
