French · Everyday Verbs
"to remember" in French: se souvenir
se souvenir
Note: also: se rappeler
To remember in French is se souvenir. Je me souviens means I remember. Use de after it: je me souviens de ton prénom. Se rappeler is a close cousin.
Old photo
Je me souviens de cette plage en Corse.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce se souvenir
Say it
suh soo-vuh-NEER
/sə su.və.niʁ/
Se is suh. Souvenir: soo-vuh-NEER. Je me souviens: zhuh muh soo-VYEN.
"to remember" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| se souvenir | to remember Infinitive; needs de. | Infinitive; needs de. |
| je me souviens | I remember Present, tu-level. | Present, tu-level. |
| tu te souviens | you remember Question or check-in. | Question or check-in. |
| se souvenir de… | to remember… Always de before the thing. | Always de before the thing. |
| souvenu(e) | remembered Past participle with être. | Past participle with être. |
How to use se souvenir in real life
- 1Old photo
Je me souviens de cette plage en Corse.
I remember that beach in Corsica.
Je me souviens + de.
- 2Code reminder
Tu te souviens du code de la porte ?
Do you remember the door code?
Tu te souviens.
- 3Meeting someone
Il se souvient toujours des prénoms.
He always remembers first names.
Il se souvient.
Mistakes English speakers make with se souvenir
Incorrect: Je me souviens ton nom.
Correct: Je me souviens de ton nom.
Se souvenir needs de.
Incorrect: Je souvenir ça.
Correct: Je me souviens de ça.
Use the reflexive: je me souviens.
Good to know
Je me souviens is also Québec's motto on license plates—same verb, proud memory vibe. In chat, tu te souviens ? softens a reminder without sounding bossy.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a reunion
ChatPal
Tu te souviens du resto près du canal ?
Do you remember the restaurant by the canal?
You
Oui, je me souviens. On y allait le vendredi.
Yes, I remember. We used to go on Fridays.
ChatPal
Parfait. Je me souviens aussi du dessert au citron.
Perfect. I also remember the lemon dessert.
You
Réservons pour samedi alors.
Let's book for Saturday then.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to remember" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to remember" in French
How do you say I remember in French?
Je me souviens.
Do I need de after se souvenir?
Yes: je me souviens de + noun.
Se souvenir or se rappeler?
Both work; se souvenir de… is very common.
How do you pronounce je me souviens?
zhuh muh soo-VYEN.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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