quand même
/kɑ̃ mɛm/
The English phrase 'all the same' is translated into French as quand même.
quand même is used to express concession or to indicate that something remains true despite a previous statement or circumstance, often meaning 'even so' or 'nevertheless'. It is also used in the specific polite phrase Merci quand même to thank someone even if they were unable to help you with a request.
Meaning: Translations (adj)
Which one should you use?
While quand même is the standard form, you may use tout de même to convey the same meaning in a more formal context or the informal expression pareil to mean 'all the same' or 'just the same'.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɑ̃ mɛm/
Did you know?
- In modern spoken French, quand même is often used as a standalone exclamation to express indignation or disbelief, similar to saying 'Really now!' or 'That is just too much!' in English.
- The word même is derived from a complex Latin construction combining met, ipse and the superlative suffix -issimus to create an extreme sense of identity.
- Using quand même to express disbelief often involves a specific rising intonation and a shrug, which can change the meaning from a polite concession to a sign of annoyance.
Examples in context
- Je me suis quand même trompé.I was wrong all the same.This sentence shows how to use quand même to express that a mistake happened despite circumstances.Tatoeba #12459606 by lbdx, translation #24942 by CK
- Je souhaite quand même rester ici.All the same, I'd like to stay here.This sentence demonstrates how to use quand même to express a desire to stay despite a situation.Tatoeba #1805191 by martin9, translation #11213763 by sundown
- Merci quand même.Thank you all the same.This sentence illustrates the standard polite way to say 'thank you all the same' when someone cannot help you.Tatoeba #4534286 by Sisyphe, translation #24771 by CK
- Malgré les difficultés, il a tout de même réussi son projet.Despite the difficulties, he all the same succeeded in his project.
- Je suis fatigué, mais je vais quand même aller au cinéma ce soir.I am tired, but I will all the same go to the cinema tonight.
- Même s'il est énervant, je l'aime pareil .Even though he is annoying, I love him all the same.
- C'est risqué, mais je vais tout de même essayer.It's risky, but I'm going to try all the same.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are deciding whether to go for a walk during a light rain.
- ManonIl pleut un peu, on reste ici ?It's raining a bit, shall we stay here?
- HugoNon, je veux sortir quand même.No, I want to go out all the same.
- ManonTu vas être tout mouillé !You're going to get all wet!
- HugoC'est pas grave, on y va quand même.It doesn't matter, let's go all the same.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quand même, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries même, quand, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
