souvenirs
The English phrase "memories" is translated into French as souvenirs.
souvenirs refers to things that you remember from the past. You can use it with various adjectives to describe the quality of these recollections, such as bons souvenirs (good memories), mauvais souvenirs (bad memories), souvenirs mémorables (memorable memories) or souvenirs précieux (precious memories).
Which one should you use?
Be aware that souvenirs is a false friend. While it means "memories" in French, it is also the English word used for keepsakes or mementos. Additionally, do not confuse the word for specific mental recollections, souvenirs, with la mémoire, which refers to the biological faculty of memory or the capacity to remember.
How does it change in a sentence?
souvenir is a masculine noun. When describing ongoing or habitual past actions while talking about memories, the imparfait tense is used.
Did you know?
- The French word souvenir is closely related to the word venir, which means 'to come'. Literally, a memory is something that 'comes back' to the mind.
- In literature, the 'remembrance of things past' is famously translated into French as À la recherche du temps perdu, focusing on 'lost time' rather than 'souvenirs'.
- The word souvenir is also used as a verb in French, meaning 'to remember', but it is grammatically more complex than the English verb.
Examples in context
- Merci pour les souvenirs.Thanks for the memories.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for the memories.Tatoeba #502349 by qdii, translation #502346 by CM
- Ça rappelle des souvenirs.It brings back memories.This sentence is useful for saying that something brings back memories.Tatoeba #11707075 by lbdx, translation #6395920 by Hybrid
- En as-tu de bons souvenirs ?Do you have good memories of it?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has good memories of something.Tatoeba #10975951 by lbdx, translation #10973815 by nipbud
- Les souvenirs de mon voyage en France resteront gravés dans ma mémoire.The memories of my trip to France will stay etched in my memory.
- On se rappelle toujours des souvenirs qu'on a créés pendant notre jeunesse.We always remember the memories we created during our youth.
- Les bons souvenirs de notre mariage me font toujours sourire.The good memories of our wedding always make me smile.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are looking through an old photo album.
- HugoCes photos sont de beaux souvenirs.These photos are beautiful memories.
- ChloéOui, je garde de bons souvenirs de ce voyage.Yes, I have good memories of that trip.
- HugoChloé, regarde ces souvenirs d'enfance !Chloé, look at these childhood memories!
- ChloéC'est incroyable comme le temps passe vite.It's incredible how fast time flies.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
