souvenir
soo-vuh-NEER
/ˌsuːvəˈnɪər/
A thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Specifically implies an item purchased or collected during travel to evoke memories of that specific trip.
The story behind the word. Directly from the French verb souvenir meaning to remember, which comes from the Latin subvenire, meaning to come to mind or to come up from under.
Word relationships
- keepsake: Keepsake often has deeply personal or sentimental value, whereas a souvenir is specifically associated with a place visited.
- disposable item: Disposable item is meant to be thrown away immediately rather than kept for memory's sake.
Commonly confused with
- relic: A relic is an object of historical or religious survival, whereas a souvenir is a modern commercial memento.
Word family
- souvenirs (noun): plural of souvenir
Collocations
- cheap souvenir
- souvenir shop
- keep as a souvenir
- cherished souvenir
Example sentences
- "She bought a miniature model of the castle as a souvenir to remember her wonderful vacation." Buying a vacation memento
- "He kept the concert ticket stub as a souvenir of the night he met his favorite band." Keeping a concert ticket
Memory hook
A souvenir helps you remember the scene of your trip. A token to remember.
When not to use
Do not use for ordinary household purchases or gifts that have no connection to a specific place or event.
Fun facts
- The most common souvenirs in the world are postcards, keychains, and refrigerator magnets.
Explore more words
memento, keepsake, memorabilia, memorial, remembrance, commemorate
Also appears in
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