souvenir
soo-vuh-NEER
/ˌsuːvəˈnɪər/
A thing that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event.
Typically a physical object purchased or collected during a trip to evoke memories of the destination.
The story behind the word. Directly borrowed from the French word 'souvenir,' meaning 'memory' or 'remembrance.' This French verb traces back to the Latin 'subvenire,' meaning 'to come to mind' or 'to occur to,' literally 'to come up from under.'
Word relationships
- keepsake: A keepsake is any sentimental token given by a person, whereas a souvenir is specifically tied to a place visited during travel.
- commodity: A generic, mass-produced item bought purely for utility with no sentimental value.
Commonly confused with
- memento: A memento is any object serving as a reminder of the past, while a souvenir is specifically associated with travel and tourism.
Word family
- souvenirs (noun): Plural form of souvenir.
Collocations
- cheap souvenir
- perfect souvenir
- souvenir shop
- buy a souvenir
Example sentences
- "I bought a small, hand-painted ceramic magnet as a souvenir of my wonderful trip to Greece." Buying a keepsake
Memory hook
A 'souvenir' helps your memories 'veer' back to the trip. A physical anchor for a fleeting memory.
When not to use
Do not use for functional items bought out of necessity (like a toothbrush on a trip) unless they serve a commemorative purpose.
Fun facts
- In the Victorian era, wealthy travelers would collect 'souvenir' pieces of ancient monuments, sometimes literally chipping off pieces of the Colosseum to take home.
Related words
Explore more words
memento, keepsake, memorabilia, memorial, remembrance, commemorate
Also appears in
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