French · Travel & Getting Around

"Souvenir" in French: souvenir

le souvenir

Say it: luh soo-vuh-NEERmasculine · le souvenirnoun/lə su.və.niʁ/

A souvenir (keepsake) in French is le souvenir, masculine. Un souvenir du voyage is a trip memento. Souvenir also means a memory: un bon souvenir.

Gift shop

Je cherche un souvenir pour ma sœur.
I'm looking for a souvenir for my sister.
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How to pronounce souvenir

Say it

luh soo-vuh-NEER

/lə su.və.niʁ/

soo-vuh-NEER. Ou like oo; final ir like eer. Soft French r.

"Souvenir" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
le souvenirthe souvenir / memory

Keepsake or recollection.

un souvenira souvenir

Indefinite.

magasin de souvenirssouvenir shop

Tourist street.

garder un souvenirto keep a memento

After a trip.

How to use souvenir in real life

  1. 1Gift shop

    Je cherche un souvenir pour ma sœur.

    I'm looking for a souvenir for my sister.

    Un souvenir.

  2. 2Airport

    Ce magnet est un souvenir de Paris.

    This magnet is a souvenir of Paris.

    Un souvenir de…

  3. 3Looking back

    Ce voyage reste un beau souvenir.

    This trip remains a lovely memory.

    Souvenir as memory.

Mistakes English speakers make with souvenir

Incorrect: Une souvenir.

Correct: Un souvenir.

Souvenir is masculine.

Incorrect: Je souvenir Paris.

Correct: Je me souviens de Paris. / J'achète un souvenir.

The noun souvenir ≠ the verb se souvenir.

Good to know

Tourist streets sell magasins de souvenirs with keychains and postcards. Among friends, quel beau souvenir talks about memories more than plastic trinkets.

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Choosing a gift

  1. ChatPal

    Tu prends un souvenir pour tes parents ?

    Are you getting a souvenir for your parents?

  2. You

    Oui, un petit souvenir pas trop lourd.

    Yes, a small souvenir that isn't too heavy.

  3. ChatPal

    Les cartes postales comptent aussi.

    Postcards count too.

  4. You

    Bonne idée, j'en prends trois.

    Good idea, I'll take three.

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"Souvenir" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Souvenir" in French

How do you say souvenir in French?

Le souvenir.

Is it only a keepsake?

No — it also means a memory.

Gender?

Masculine: un souvenir.

How do you pronounce souvenir?

soo-vuh-NEER.

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