Verb: se souvenir de

“Se souvenir de” is the French verb meaning “to remember.” It is a reflexive verb and is always followed by “de,” or preceded by its equivalent “en.”

Usage examples of “se souvenir de”:

  • Je me souviens de notre première rencontre. (I remember our first meeting.)
  • Elle se souvient de ses grands-parents. (She remembers her grandparents.)
  • Nous nous souvenons de la date de notre anniversaire. (We remember our anniversary date.)
  • Ils se souviennent de leur enfance avec émotion. (They remember their childhood with emotion.)

Using “En” to Replace “It” or “Them”:

In French, the pronoun “en” is often employed with “se souvenir de” to replace previously mentioned things or ideas. It acts as a versatile pronoun, helping to avoid repetition and maintain fluency in speech.

  • J’ai visité Paris l’année dernière. Je m’en souviens très bien. (I visited Paris last year. I remember it vividly.)

In this example, “en” replaces the need to repeat “Paris,” making the sentence more concise and elegant.

Conjugation in the Present Tense and Passé Composé:

The verb “se souvenir de” is conjugated in the same way as the irregular verb “venir.”

Present Tense:

PronounConjugation in Present Tense
Jeme souviens de
Tute souviens de
Il/Ellese souvient de
Nousnous souvenons de
Vousvous souvenez de
Ils/Ellesse souviennent de

Passé Composé:

The passé composé of “se souvenir de” is formed by using the auxiliary verb “être” in the present tense, followed by the past participle of “se souvenir,” which is “souvenu.”

PronounConjugation in Passé Composé
Jeme suis souvenu(e) de
Tut’es souvenu(e) de
Il/Elles’est souvenu(e) de
Nousnous sommes souvenu(e)s de
Vousvous êtes souvenu(e)(s) de
Ils/Ellesse sont souvenu(e)(s) de

The Etymology of “Se Souvenir De”:

The verb “se souvenir de” traces its origins to the Latin verb “subvenire,” which means “to come up from below” or “to come to mind.” This Latin root evolved into the Old French verb “sovenir,” later incorporating the reflexive pronoun “se” to create the modern French verb “se souvenir de.”

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • cour, cours & court

    These three French words are pronounced the same, despite their slightly different spellings. “La cour” (Feminine Noun) Meaning: “la cour” as a feminine noun translates to “courtyard” in English. It represents an open space, typically enclosed by buildings or walls, found within a home, castle, or other architectural structures. Courtyards often serve as central gathering…

  • ralentir

    The French verbs “alentir” and “ralentir” are related to the adjective “lent,” which means “slow.” The two verbs both mean “to slow down.” “Alentir” is only used in literature (or in Québec) these days, while “ralentir” is in common usage. Meanings and Usage: Conjugation in the Present Tense: Conjugation in the Passé Composé: Etymology: Both…

  • success

    Talking About Success in French When it comes to expressing success in French, there are a few common verbs and adjectives that can help you communicate this idea. 1. The Verb “To Succeed” – Réussir The most common verb for “to succeed” in French is réussir. You can also use réussir in a more general…

  • Thing

    In French, there are several words used to refer to “thing.” Each has its nuances and specific contexts where it’s most appropriate. Here’s a guide to the different French words for “thing.” Chose The most common word for “thing” is une chose. It is used broadly and can refer to just about any object or…

  • cuire vs cuisiner

    French learners often wonder about the difference between the verbs cuire and cuisiner. While both mean “to cook,” they are used in different contexts. Meaning and Usage Etymology Conjugation Cuire (Irregular Verb) Present tense: Passé composé: Cuisiner (Regular -ER Verb) Present tense: Passé composé:

  • violon d’Ingres

    The French saying “violon d’Ingres” literally translates as “violin of Ingres.” What it really means is “hobby,” “pastime,” or “an activity that you enjoy outside your main job.” Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was a 19th century painter who created a number of famous works, including Grande Baigneuse (1808), Oedipus and the Sphinx (1808), and La Grande Odalisque…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *