souvenir
/su.v(ə).niʁ/masculine
The English phrase 'souvenir' is translated into French as souvenir.
A souvenir is an item of sentimental value. You can use the phrase Acheter un souvenir to say 'to buy a souvenir' or Rapporter un souvenir to mean 'to bring back a souvenir'. Additionally, the phrase en souvenir de is used to express that something is being kept or done in memory of a person or an event.
Meaning: item of sentimental value (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word souvenir literally means 'memory' or 'remembrance'.
Which one should you use?
While in English 'souvenir' refers only to a physical object, in French, un souvenir can refer to both a physical object and a mental memory or recollection.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /su.v(ə).niʁ/.
Did you know?
- The word souvenir is derived from the Latin subvenīre, which literally means 'to come up to' or 'to occur to'. This suggests a memory is something that rises up from the depths of the mind.
- While English speakers use 'souvenir' for a travel trinket, French speakers often use the word bibelot to describe a small, decorative ornament that may have no sentimental value at all.
- Unlike in English, where a 'souvenir' is almost always something you buy, in French, un souvenir is frequently something you keep for free, such as a pressed flower or a pebble from a beach.
Examples in context
- Je garderai le menu en souvenir.I'll keep the menu as a souvenir.This sentence shows how to use souvenir when keeping an object.Tatoeba #12310859 by lbdx, translation #2895943 by verdulo
- Il a acheté un souvenir à deux sous.He bought a two-bit souvenir.This sentence uses souvenir in the context of a purchase.Tatoeba #14044592 by Myrano_, translation #14044591 by Myrano_
- Y a-t-il une boutique de souvenirs dans l'hôtel ?Is there a souvenir shop in the hotel?This sentence uses souvenir to refer to a shop.Tatoeba #663839 by U2FS, translation #33370 by CK
- J'ai acheté un souvenir de ma visite à Paris.I bought a souvenir from my visit to Paris.
- Ce livre est un souvenir de mon enfance.This book is a souvenir from my childhood.
- J'ai ramené des petits cadeaux de mon voyage en France.I brought back some souvenirs from my trip to France.
- As-tu acheté des souvenirs pendant ton voyage?Did you buy any souvenirs during your trip?
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are looking through a box of old items at home.
- ChloéTu veux garder ce souvenir ?Do you want to keep this souvenir?
- NathanNon, je n'en ai plus besoin.No, I don't need it anymore.
- ChloéC'est dommage, c'est un beau souvenir.It's a shame, it's a beautiful souvenir.
- NathanJe préfère jeter tout ce vieux bazar.I prefer throwing away all this old junk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “souvenir” translations and entries souvenir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries souvenir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
