souvenir

[ soo-vuh-neer, soo-vuh-neer ]

noun

1. a usually small and relatively inexpensive article given, kept, or purchased as a reminder of a place visited, an occasion, etc.; memento.

   Synonyms: token, keepsake, reminder

2. a memory.

souvenir

/ ˌsuːvəˈnɪə; ˈsuːvəˌnɪə /

noun

1. an object that recalls a certain place, occasion, or person; memento

verb

1. euphemistic.
   to steal or keep (something, esp a small article) for one's own use; purloin

Word History and Origins

Origin of souvenir¹

1765–75; < French, noun use of ( se ) souvenir to remember < Latin subvenīre to come to mind, equivalent to sub- sub- + venīre to come

Word History and Origins

Origin of souvenir¹

C18: from French, from ( se ) souvenir to remember, from Latin subvenīre to come to mind, from sub- up to + venīre to come

Example Sentences

It inspired a slew of TikTok parodies, souvenir mugs and jokey posts commemorating accomplishments far less impressive than winning the White House.

From Los Angeles Times

But Team Tugendhat led the field with souvenir hats, t-shirts, mints with his name on them, tattoos - and even Tugend-tan, fake tan.

From BBC

Freeman responded to the Bronx cheer by rewarding one of those fans with a souvenir, lining a two-run home run to right field off New York right-hander Clarke Schmidt to propel the Dodgers toward a 4-2 Game 3 victory and a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the best-of-seven series.

From Los Angeles Times

In the early 1990s, Massry, fresh off another firing, came back north to Lake George and took over his parents’ souvenir store, then called the Mushroom Tree, with his brother Norman.

From Slate

Valenzuela broke no lifetime pitching records, his career is more Ken Holtzman than Sandy Koufax, yet throughout the Southland the majority of souvenir Dodger jerseys still bear his name.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gift
• memento
• relic
• trophy