# same

> English word · Adjective · IPA /seɪm/ · frequency rank #155

## Definitions
1. Not different or other; not another or others; not different as regards self; selfsame; identical.
2. Lacking variety from; indistinguishable.
3. Similar, alike.
4. Used to express the unity of an object or person which has various different descriptions or qualities.
5. A reply of confirmation of identity.

## Etymology
From Middle English same, from Old Norse samr (“same”) and/or Old English same, sama (“same”) in the phrase swā same (swā) (“in like manner, in the same way (as)”), both from Proto-Germanic *samaz (“same”), from Proto-Indo-European *somHós (“same”). Doublet of some and -some.
Cognates
Cognate with Scots samin (“same, like, together”), Dutch samen (“together”), Danish samme (“same”), Swedish samma (“same”), Norwegian Bokmål samme (“same”), Norwegian Nynorsk same (“same”), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌼𐌰 (sama), a weak adjectival form, Ancient Greek ὁμός (homós, “same”), Old Irish som, Russian са́мый (sámyj), Sanskrit सम (samá), Persian هم (ham, “also, same”), Finnish sama (“same”), Estonian sama (“same”).
Unrelated to similar words in Austronesian languages such as Malagasy samy (“both, each, everyone; same”); Indonesian and Malay sama (“same, equal, together, exactly like”); Lauan dama (“mate, fellow, corresponding part; exactly like, the same”), 'Are'are tama (“in line, in pairs”)), which originated from Proto-Austronesian *sama (“both, each, everyone, fellow, together, corresponding part; exactly like, in pairs, in line; same”).

## Easily confused with
- **se** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-se)
- **SM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sm)
- **she** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-she)
- **see** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-see)
- **say** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-say)
- **saw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-saw)
- **san** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-san)
- **sat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sat)
- **sum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sum)
- **sue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sue)
- **SIM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sim)
- **SMS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sms)
- **sap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sap)
- **SMH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-smh)
- **SAS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sas)
- **Sao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sao)
- **sem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sem)
- **som** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-som)
- **Sar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sar)
- **sax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/same-vs-sax)

## Common misspellings (5)
`asme`, `saem`, `samme`, `smae`, `ssame`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/same