mêmes

Mêmes is a French word that functions as the plural form of the adjective même and of the determiner même. It is used to indicate identity or sameness with something previously mentioned or understood, and it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. In practice, mêmes appears with both masculine and feminine plural nouns: les mêmes livres (the same books), les mêmes personnes (the same people).

As a determiner before a noun, même introduces the idea of “the same” as in the definite sense. It can also occur as a pronoun in phrases such as les mêmes, meaning “the same ones.” In everyday usage, même is common in expressions like les mêmes idées or les mêmes erreurs, where the noun is explicit, and in contexts like vous avez les mêmes? to refer to the same items.

Mêmes has a number of related forms and usages. The reflexive pronouns eux-mêmes and elles-mêmes mean “themselves,” emphasizing the subject. The word même can also function as an adverb in contexts such as même si (even if) or even when used to intensify, but the adverbial use is separate from the plural adjective form mêmes.

Etymology traces mêmes to Old French mesme or mesme, from Latin idem “the same.” The modern accent reflects historical vowels and pronunciation. While most common in standard French, même appears frequently in literary and formal writing to express exact sameness, contrast, or emphasis.

See also: même, eux-mêmes/elles-mêmes, expressions using même (even, the same) and related phrases indicating sameness or emphasis.