Which to use
“dasselbe” and “derselbe” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #2,386
- “dasselbe” frequency rank
- #9,168
- “derselbe” frequency rank
- 11554
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | dasselbe | derselbe |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Nominativ Singular Neutrum des Pronomens derselbe | bezeichnet die Identität mit einem vorausgegangenen oder bekannten Ding im Gegensatz zu einem anderen Ding derselben Art, für das "der gleiche" zu verwenden ist |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set dasselbe and derselbe apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. dasselbe ([dasˈzɛlbə]) and derselbe ([deːɐ̯ˈzɛlbə]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 11554, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
dasselbe is recorded at frequency rank #2,386, classified as apron, pronounced [dasˈzɛlbə]. derselbe is at rank #9,168, tagged as apron, pronounced [deːɐ̯ˈzɛlbə].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 11554, this pair ranks #1,969,254 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of dasselbe vs derselbe
Shared letters: bdels. Private to "dasselbe": a. Private to "derselbe": r.
"dasselbe" · 8 letters · shape CVCCVCCV · "derselbe" · 8 letters · shape CVCCVCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "dasselbe" and "derselbe" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "dasselbe" or "derselbe"?
Remembering dasselbe vs derselbe
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “dasselbe” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable