Learn Italian: Abbiamo la stessa identica versione del libro. - We have the exact same version of the book.

Abbiamo la stessa identica versione del libro.

We have the exact same version of the book.

Breakdown of Abbiamo la stessa identica versione del libro.

Questions & Answers about Abbiamo la stessa identica versione del libro.

Why does stessa come before the noun versione in this sentence?

When stesso (or its feminine form stessa) is placed before the noun, it means 'the same' to show exact identity. If we placed it after the noun, as in la versione stessa, it would mean 'the version itself' to add reflexive emphasis.

Is it redundant to say stessa identica?

While technically redundant, stessa identica is a very common fixed expression in Italian. It is the direct equivalent of saying 'the exact same' in English and is used to add strong emphasis to the identity of the object.

Could I use medesima instead of stessa here?

Yes, you could say la medesima identica versione. Medesimo has the exact same meaning and placement rules as stesso when used to mean 'the same'. However, stesso is much more common in everyday conversation, while medesimo can sound slightly more formal or literary.

Why doesn't identica follow the noun versione as descriptive adjectives usually do?