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

New York-based businesswoman Ruth Harrigan usually sells her honey and beeswax products in souvenir shops.

From Fortune

Grant left many items on the sidewalk for people to take as souvenirs and packed the rest in a truck to haul away.

From Washington Blade

Spices are the preferred souvenir for Vicente Wolf, the Cuban-born, New York-based interior designer.

From Washington Post

Kim Darling, executive producer, InboundFarewell lanyards, business cards and branded pens — it’ll be some time before people get their hands on these souvenirs of in-person events again.

From Digiday

The film, from first-time writer director Natalie Krinsky and executive produced by Selena Gomez, is about a 20-something gallerist played by Geraldine Viswanathan who creates an art exhibit with souvenirs from her past relationships.

From Fortune

And more than anything, I wanted a souvenir for my father, so I rolled him back, and he had gold teeth.

From The Daily Beast

After the ceremony, the Greek gave back the ten grand and kept what was left of the dollar for a souvenir.

From The Daily Beast

We stop at a souvenir stand to buy buttons that proclaim I RODE IT!

From The Daily Beast

He then jokes about the legal risks of keeping the butt as a souvenir for back home.

From The Daily Beast

She lived out her life selling his clothes to souvenir hunters and people like that.

From The Daily Beast

A millionaire might offer more for a life belt as a souvenir than a drowning man could pay for it to save his life.

From Project Gutenberg

Her sweet, tragic face, her noble presence, her thoughtful brow—you see all again in these halls instinct with her souvenir.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I stuck the mallet in my pocket, telling every one who cared to hear that I was carrying away a souvenir.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, very coaxingly, "Didn't you bring your old Nannie a souvenir from the war?"

From Project Gutenberg

He breathed on the crumpled souvenir and rubbed it on his trousers to polish it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gift
• memento
• relic
• trophy