Zelfde

zelfde is a Dutch determiner, adjective, and pronoun meaning “the same.” It is used to indicate that something is not different from something else, often in relation to something mentioned earlier or assumed in the context. The form changes to agree with the gender and definiteness of the noun it modifies.

Forms and usage

- Before de-words (common gender nouns): dezelfde. Examples: dezelfde dag (the same day), dezelfde fout (the same mistake), dezelfde mening (the same opinion).

- Before het-words (neuter nouns): hetzelfde. Examples: hetzelfde verhaal (the same story), hetzelfde huis (the same house).

- As a predicative pronoun, hetzelf… sorry, hetzelfde can stand alone: Dat is hetzelfde. This means “That is the same (thing).”

- In many sentences, hetzelfde is used to refer to the previously mentioned item or situation, while dezelfde is used when the noun is specified and definite.

Etymology and related forms

- Same/different forms derive from zelf, meaning “self,” with a suffix that marks identity. Modern Dutch uses dezelfde/hetzelfde as the standard spellings. An older or regional variant is zelde, though it is far less common today.

- The word has cognates in other Germanic languages; in Afrikaans, the equivalent is dieselfde.

Nuances and synonyms

- Ze lde versus dezelfde/hetzelfde: dezelfde/hetzelfde emphasize identity of the item; other terms like gelijk (similar) or identiek (identical) carry slightly different nuances.

- Dezelfde and hetzelfde can be used interchangeably in some contexts when the noun is unmentioned or generalized, but choice depends on the noun’s gender and definiteness.

See also

- Gelijk, identiek, eender

- Afrikaans dieselfde as a closely related term

Thezelfde/dezelfde usage is common in everyday Dutch, in both spoken and written language, across the Netherlands and Flanders.