euxmêmes

Eux-mêmes is the standard French expression for “themselves,” formed by the disjunctive pronoun eux and the intensifying element mêmes. The conventional spelling is eux-mêmes, with a hyphen; the form euxmêmes without the hyphen is regarded as nonstandard in modern French.

Forms and function: The masculine plural form is eux-mêmes, and the feminine plural form is elles-mêmes. These forms act as stressed or emphatic pronouns (pronoms toniques) used to emphasize the subject's own action or identity, often in contrast to others or to avoid repetition of a noun.

Usage: Eux-mêmes can introduce or reinforce the subject in a sentence, and it can appear before or after the verb, as well as in apposition. Examples include: Ils l’ont fait eux-mêmes (They did it themselves); Eux-mêmes l’ont admis (They themselves admitted it); Les responsables, eux-mêmes, ont signé (The responsible people themselves signed). It is commonly used in written and formal registers to stress autonomy or accountability.

Relation to other forms: Eux-mêmes has feminine and plural equivalents, elles-mêmes, and is part of a broader set of reinforced pronouns that includes moi-même, toi-même, lui-même, elle-même, nous-mêmes, vous-mêmes. These forms are used to stress the subject, contrast with others, or foreground agency.

Origins and notes: The form derives from même, meaning “the same” or “self,” used as an intensifier in French. In contemporary usage, eux-mêmes is a stable, grammatical unit that enhances emphasis and clarity, particularly in narrative or argumentative writing.

See also: French pronouns, stressed pronouns, pronominal intensifiers, eux-mêmes usage in literary French.