Italian · Travel & Getting Around

"Souvenir" in Italian: souvenir

il souvenir

Say it: soo-veh-NEERmasculine · il souvenirnoun/su.veˈnir/

Note: also: il ricordo

Souvenir in Italian is often il souvenir (soo-veh-NEER), masculine—same as French/English. Il ricordo is a warmer native option for a keepsake.

Gift shop

Cerco un souvenir per mia madre.
I'm looking for a souvenir for my mother.
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How to pronounce souvenir

Say it

soo-veh-NEER

/su.veˈnir/

Souvenir stresses NEER: soo-veh-NEER. Italian vowels clear.

"Souvenir" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
il souvenirthe souvenir

Tourist shops.

i souvenirsouvenirs

Plural often unchanged.

un ricordoa keepsake / memory

More Italian-feeling.

comprare un souvenirto buy a souvenir

Travel.

How to use souvenir in real life

  1. 1Gift shop

    Cerco un souvenir per mia madre.

    I'm looking for a souvenir for my mother.

    Un souvenir.

  2. 2Packing

    Nella valigia ho tre souvenir fragili.

    In the suitcase I have three fragile souvenirs.

    Souvenir plural.

  3. 3Postcard alternative

    Questo magnete è un piccolo souvenir.

    This magnet is a small souvenir.

    Piccolo souvenir.

Mistakes English speakers make with souvenir

Incorrect: La souvenir è bella.

Correct: Il souvenir è bello.

Souvenir is masculine in Italian shop talk.

Incorrect: Compra un memory.

Correct: Compra un souvenir / un ricordo.

Use souvenir or ricordo.

Good to know

Tourist streets sell souvenir everywhere; locals may prefer ricordo for something meaningful. Either word works at the till.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Choosing a gift before flying home

  1. ChatPal

    Prendi un souvenir del Duomo?

    Getting a souvenir of the Duomo?

  2. You

    Sì, un souvenir piccolo per il frigo.

    Yes, a small souvenir for the fridge.

  3. ChatPal

    Io prendo due souvenir: uno per me.

    I'll take two souvenirs: one for me.

  4. You

    Affare fatto.

    Deal.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Souvenir" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Souvenir" in Italian

Souvenir or ricordo?

Souvenir is tourist-shop default; ricordo feels warmer.

Gender?

Masculine: il souvenir.

Plural?

Often i souvenir.

Pronunciation?

soo-veh-NEER.

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