ELONIO
Log inSign up

Hanno stampato il medesimo documento.

Hanno stampato il medesimo documento.
They printed the same document.
From Lesson 303:Exact identity and emphasis (stesso, medesimo)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Hanno stampato il medesimo documento.

Why use medesimo instead of stesso in this sentence?
When placed before the noun, medesimo and stesso are interchangeable and both mean "the same". Medesimo is simply a more formal and slightly more literary synonym for stesso. Because this sentence talks about a formal item like a documento, this elevated register fits perfectly.
What would it mean if we put the adjective after the noun, saying il documento medesimo?
Moving medesimo (or stesso) to follow the noun completely changes its function. Instead of indicating identity ("the same"), it provides reflexive emphasis, meaning "itself". If the sentence were Hanno stampato il documento medesimo, it would mean "They printed the document itself" (for instance, as opposed to printing the email it was attached to).
Can medesimo be used on its own without repeating the word documento?
Yes! If the context is already clear from the conversation, medesimo can act as a pronoun. You could just say Hanno stampato il medesimo to mean "They printed the same one."

Learn Hanno stampato il medesimo documento and more in Italian

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Italian →