Même serves to put emphasis on identity, likeness, or reinforcement. Aussi serves to add an idea or to mark an equality. In the same shoes, the idea is identity. In Marie comes too, we add Marie to other people already mentioned. To talk about a comparable degree, we use aussi as in Paul is as tall as his brother. To go further on the comparative forms, see Comparaisons.

When two people, two things or two situations are at the same level, aussi often accompanies an adjective or an adverb with that: This street is as calm as yours, He runs as fast as me. The structure is adverb + adjective or adverb + that + comparison. Même does not express this equality. Même compares differently: it emphasizes identity or the fact that something is included in another idea, but it does not replace aussi in a phrase of measure or level.

Comparative use of aussi

Usage	Explanation
Same level	We use aussi to say that a quality or situation reaches the same level as another.
Equality of strength	We use aussi to mark an equality of strength or intensity between two elements.
Quantity comparison	We use aussi to compare an equivalent quantity in a sentence.

Aussi serves to add an element to a list, to an action or to an argument. It is used when a second idea comes to be added to the first: I bought bread and also cheese, He speaks English and also Spanish. It functions as an additive link. Même does not play this role. We do not say bread and even cheese to simply add a second element. Même changes the meaning: it emphasizes the element it accompanies.

Additive use of aussi

Usage	Explanation
Simple addition	We use aussi to add an idea to what was just said.
List of elements	We use aussi to indicate an additional element in a list.
An additional argument	We use aussi to give one more argument in an explanation.

With même, the focus is fixed on a single element to make it stronger or more surprising. We place it before the word we want to highlight: Even the children understood, He refused to come, even after my call. Here, même highlights an extreme, unexpected or particularly important case. It draws attention to the exact element it accompanies, without adding a new idea to the sentence.

Use of reinforcement with même

Usage	Explanation
Highlighting	We use même to highlight an element in the sentence.
Surprise	We use même when an element seems surprising or unexpected.
Strong reinforcement	We use même to strongly reinforce information that is already present.

After a noun, le même, la même, les mêmes indicate exact identity. We talk about the same person, the same object or the same already-known group: We have the same car, They live in the same streets. The word agrees with the noun it accompanies. This form is not used to compare degrees. It is used to say that two realities are identical or that it is the object already mentioned. You find this usage in sentences like the same day, the same idea, the same results.

Use of même after a noun

Idea
We use the same to talk about an object or being identical to another one already known.
We use the same when the noun is feminine and identical to another one.
We use the same when several things are identical as a group.

Aussi can reply alone to express equivalence or reciprocity in a brief answer: Me too, Him too, Us too. It then replaces an entire repetition of the previous sentence. In a conversation, this form is very common: I am tired. Me too. She likes jazz. Me too. Même does not fit this role. It is not used to craft a short answer of the type same.

Brief answers with aussi

Usage	Explanation
Corresponding answer	We use aussi to say me too or to show that the idea applies in the same way.
Answer about another person	We use aussi to say that another person is included in the same way.
Equivalent answer	We use aussi alone to mean same in a short answer.

At the beginning of a sentence, aussi can announce a consequence or a logical addition: It was raining a lot. Also, we stayed at home. The following sentence flows from the first. This usage often appears in a polished style. Aussi can also open up an additional idea in the thread of discourse: Aussi, we must check the schedules before leaving. Même does not have this opening function to add a consequence or organize the reasoning.

Beginning a sentence with aussi

Usage	Explanation
Adding an idea	At the beginning of a sentence, aussi is used to add an idea with a small transition.
Consequence	At the beginning of a sentence, aussi can announce a slight or logical consequence.
Transition to what follows	At the beginning of a sentence, aussi helps link the speech naturally.

Some expressions stick as blocks. We say de même to mark equivalence: Good luck to you. De même. We also say quand même to mark a concession or a contrast: It was raining, but we went out anyway. In d’autant plus que, aussi does not appear, but the idea of reinforcement can recall its usage. In several constructions, the place of même or aussi depends on the entire expression, not a rule isolated word by word.

tout de mêmequand mêmeaussi bienpas mêmede mêmede la même façon

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Cette expression sert à renforcer une négation très forteCette expression marque une idée de contraste ou d insistance malgré une difficultéCette expression signifie aussi ou dans le même esprit selon le contexteCette expression veut dire avec le même procédé ou de manière identiqueCette expression exprime une surprise prudente ou une concessionCette expression sert à dire également ou autant dans une tournure fixe

Fixed expressions with même and aussi

Word	Definition
de même	This expression means aussi or in the same spirit depending on the context.
quand même	This expression marks an idea of contrast or emphasis despite a difficulty.
aussi bien	This expression is used to say equally or as much in a fixed expression.
pas même	This expression is used to reinforce a very strong negation.
de la même façon	This expression means with the same method or in an identical manner.
tout de même	This expression expresses cautious surprise or a concession.

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