Souvenir is a noun for a keepsake or memento from a place or event, often a small object carried to remind oneself of a memory. It typically refers to tangible items obtained while traveling or at special occasions, and is frequently discussed in cultural or travel contexts. The word emphasizes personal memory, sentiment, and the physical reminder of an experience.
"She bought a seashell souvenir from her vacation to the coast."
"The museum gift shop offered kilim bags and other souvenirs."
"He kept the souvenir postcard on his desk to recall the trip."
"During the reunion, guests exchanged souvenirs to remember the day."
Souvenir comes from the French word souvenir meaning 'to remember' (from Old French souvenir, from late Latin memoria, ‘memory’ via Latin recordar). The English adoption passed through French in the 18th century, initially referring to something that serves as a reminder. The word evolved to denote a physical object kept as a reminder of a place or event, especially a destination-based trinket. The sense shift from abstract memory to tangible reminder aligns with other French-derived travel vocabulary of the period and the growth of tourism lingo in Western Europe and North America. First known use in English traces to the 18th or early 19th century when travel-writing popularized the practice of collecting keepsakes from journeys and cultural sites, with “souvenir” becoming standard lexicon for mementos in both formal and colloquial usage. In modern usage, ‘souvenir’ is commonly used globally, retaining its travel-related nuance while expanding to everyday keepsakes beyond travel contexts. The word retains a refined, slightly formal tone in English but is widely understood and used in casual speech. Its French origin remains a subtle marker of its cultural and linguistic heritage, often signalling a conventional travel-related item rather than a functional object.
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Words that rhyme with "Souvenir"
-eer sounds
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Pronounce it as /suːˈvɪn.jər/ in US English, with the second syllable stressed. The first syllable is a long 'soo' sound, the second is a short ‘vin’ followed by a soft ‘yer’ or ‘yuh’ in many dialects. Think ‘soo-VEEN-yər’ for clarity in American contexts, with the final ’-er’ reduced in fluent speech. Mouth position: start with an open, rounded front vowel for /suː/, raise the tongue slightly for /vɪn/, then relax into the /jər/ glide. Audio reference: consider listening to native speech clips or pronunciation apps to feel the sequence and rhythm.
Common issues include misplacing the stress on the first or third syllable and truncating the final /ər/ to an /ɹ/ or a schwa that’s too weak. A frequent error is saying /suːˈviːnər/ or /ˈsuː.vɪˌnɪr/. Correction: keep the secondary syllable as /ɪn/ with a clear /n/ and then a light /jə/ or /jər/ glide into the final /ɚ/ (or /ə/ in non-rhotic). Practice the two-step beat: suː-VEEN-yer, with stress on VEEN. Listen for the subtle length in /suː/ and the short vowel in /ɪ/ before /n/.
In US English, stress on the second syllable; final /ər/ often rhoticized to /ər/. UK English can vary: some speakers produce /ˌsuː.vɪˈnɪə/ with a longer final vowel or /ˈsuː.vənˌɪə/ depending on region. Australian tends to be non-rhotic, with a clearer /ə/ in the final syllable and a slightly flatter /ɪə/ depending on speaker; some say /ˌsɔː.vəˈnɪə/ in older or more conservative speech. Across all, the key is the /ɪ/ in the second syllable and the /jə/ glide before the final vowel. Listening to native examples helps; use IPA references to align your mouth positions.
Because of its multisyllabic structure and subtle vowel transitions. The second syllable requires a short /ɪ/ after a long /uː/ and then a soft /j/ before a trailing schwa or /ə/ sound, which can be non-intuitive for non-native speakers. Also, the final /ər/ in rhotic vs non-rhotic accents creates inconsistency in perception. Focus on the ɪn + jə sequence and keep the final vowel relaxed; practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the glide and rhythm.
A distinct feature is the subtle secondary stress or elongation on the second syllable in many dialects, creating the VEEN‑yər rhythm that differentiates it from similar-sounding words. Pay attention to the liaising between /n/ and /j/ as you transition from /ɪn/ to /jə/; avoid a harsh /r/ at the end in non-rhotic speech. Mastery comes from performing the sequence slowly, then reproducing the cadence in natural speech.
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