What does momento mean?
A momento is a small object or souvenir kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event. It serves as a tangible memory of an experience or a person, often evoking emotions or nostalgia when recalled. The term is often used interchangeably with 'memento', and both words share a Latin root in 'meminisse', meaning 'to remember'. Momento is used in both British and US English, although 'memento' might be more commonly encountered in American English. The word is useful for describing personal tokens that hold sentimental value.
nounA momento is a small object or souvenir kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event. It is often a memento.
- A small object kept as a reminder
- A souvenir
"She kept the seashell as a momento of her beach vacation."
"The photo was a momento of their special day."
"He brought back a momento from his trip abroad."
The plural form 'momentos' is used when referring to multiple objects.
"She collected many momentos from her travels."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of momento
The word 'momento' originates from the Latin 'momentum', meaning 'movement, impulse, or moment', and by extension, 'a small object serving as a reminder'. This Latin term is derived from 'movēre', meaning 'to move'. The term evolved into 'memento' in Latin, which directly translates to 'remember'. The variant 'momento' emerged as a less common alternative, used in both British and US English.
Usage notes
The term 'momento' is often used interchangeably with 'memento', though 'memento' is more commonly used in American English.