Même, Mêmes

Learn about the French adjective, adverb, and pronoun même

The French word même can be an indefinite adjective, indefinite pronoun, or adverb, and is also used in a number of expressions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.

Même has several different meanings depending on where and how it is used:

I.	Indefinite adjective
	When used as an indefinite adjective, même expresses one of two things, depending on where it is placed:
	A.	Before the noun, même means same:
		C'est la même chose !	It's the same thing!
		J'ai lu le même livre.	I read the same book.
		Il aime les mêmes programmes.	He likes the same programs
	B.	After the noun or pronoun, même emphasizes that thing and means (one)self, exact, personnified:
		Il a perdu la bague même.	He lost the ring itself.
		Je veux le faire moi-même. (stressed pronoun)	I want to do it myself.
		Elle est la gentillesse même.	She is the epitome of kindness (is kindness personnified).
II.	Indefinite pronoun
	Même as an indefinite pronoun means the same.
		C'est le même.	It's the same.
		Elles sont toujours les mêmes.	They're always the same.
III.	Adverb
	As an adverb, même is invariable, emphasizes the word it modifies, and means even, (to go) so far as to.
		Même Jacques est venu.	Even Jacques came.
		Il avait même acheté un billet.	He even went so far as to buy a ticket.
		Ils sont tous partis, même le bébé.	They all left, even the baby.
		Je l'ai vu ici même.	I saw it in this very spot.
IV.	Related Expressions
		à même	right on, in, from; in position
		de même	the same (as a description)
		quand même	even so, anyway
		tout de même	even so
		Ça revient au même.	That amounts to the same thing.
		C'est du pareil au même. (inf)	It's always the same; Six of one half a dozen of the other.

  

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