se souvenir de vs. se rappeler

The French verbs “se rappeler” and “se souvenir” mean “to remember” or “to recall.” Learn the differences and similarities between the two verbs, as well as how to conjugate them, and their linguistic origins.

Meaning and Usage:

1. “Se souvenir de”:

  • Meaning: “Se souvenir de” translates to “to remember” or “to recall.” It implies a spontaneous, involuntary memory recall.
  • Examples:
    • Je me souviens de cette journée. (I remember that day.)
    • Il ne se souvient jamais de ses rêves. (He never remembers his dreams.)

2. “Se rappeler”:

  • Meaning: Similar to “se souvenir de,” “se rappeler” also means “to remember” or “to recall.” However, it tends to convey a more deliberate, conscious effort in recollection.
  • Examples:
    • Je me rappelle bien de cette histoire. (I remember that story well.)
    • Elle ne peut pas se rappeler où elle a mis ses clés. (She can’t remember where she put her keys.)

Conjugation:

Present Tense:

  • “Se souvenir de”:
    • Je me souviens
    • Tu te souviens
    • Il/elle/on se souvient
    • Nous nous souvenons
    • Vous vous souvenez
    • Ils/elles se souviennent
  • “Se rappeler”:
    • Je me rappelle
    • Tu te rappelles
    • Il/elle/on se rappelle
    • Nous nous rappelons
    • Vous vous rappelez
    • Ils/elles se rappellent

Passé Composé:

  • “Se souvenir de”:
    • Je me suis souvenu(e)
    • Tu t’es souvenu(e)
    • Il/elle/on s’est souvenu(e)
    • Nous nous sommes souvenus(e)
    • Vous vous êtes souvenus(e)
    • Ils/elles se sont souvenus(e)
  • “Se rappeler”:
    • Je me suis rappelé(e)
    • Tu t’es rappelé(e)
    • Il/elle/on s’est rappelé(e)
    • Nous nous sommes rappelés(e)
    • Vous vous êtes rappelés(e)
    • Ils/elles se sont rappelés(e)

Etymology:

  • “Se souvenir de”:
  • The verb “souvenir” traces its roots to the Latin word “subvenire,” meaning “to come up.”
  • The prefix “se” indicates a reflexive action, and “de” signifies “of” or “from.” Hence, “se souvenir de” can be interpreted as “to come up from oneself.”
  • “Se rappeler”:
  • “Rappeler” comes from the Latin “re-appellare,” where “re” implies repetition or intensity.
  • Therefore, “se rappeler” can be understood as “to call back to oneself” or “to recall intensively.”

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