Momento or Memento: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Momento or memento? This pair confuses writers, because momento sounds like moment, and a keepsake is often tied to a moment in life. In English, only one spelling is correct for a keepsake, and the other spelling belongs to other languages, not to English. This guide explains the correct English word, why momento appears, what momento means elsewhere, and how to remember the spelling.
Quick Answer
Quick Answer: Memento is correct in English, for a keepsake, an object kept to remember a person, place, or event. Momento, with an o after m, is a misspelling in English, when you mean a keepsake. Momento is a real word in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, where it means moment, but it is not the English word for a keepsake. If you are writing in English about a keepsake, write memento, with an e after m.
Meaning of Memento
A memento is an object kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event. Examples are a ticket from a first concert, a shell from a beach holiday, or a photo from a graduation. A memento is usually small, personal, and kept for its memory value, not for its money value. It is similar to a souvenir, but a souvenir is usually bought on a trip, while a memento can be any object tied to a memory, bought or not. The word is a noun, and it is used in both formal and informal writing.
Why Do People Write Momento?
People write momento because it sounds like moment. A keepsake is tied to a moment, so the brain connects moment and memento, and writes momento, with an o. Another reason is pronunciation. In fast speech, memento can sound like momento, because the first e is weak and unstressed. The spelling mistake is understandable, but it is still wrong in English. The English word starts with mem, from memory, not with mom, from moment. Checking the start of the word catches the mistake.
Is Momento a Word in Another Language?
Yes. Momento is a real word in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, where it means moment. For example, in Spanish, un momento means a moment, as in wait a moment. In Italian and Portuguese, momento has the same sense, a short period of time. This is why the competitor’s claim that momento has no meaning is incomplete. Momento has a meaning, just not in English, and not as a keepsake. If you are writing in Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese about a moment, momento is correct. If you are writing in English about a keepsake, memento is correct.
Memento vs Moment vs Souvenir vs Keepsake
- Memento: an object kept to remember, as in she kept the ticket as a memento.
- Moment: a short period of time, as in wait a moment.
- Souvenir: an object bought, usually on a trip, to remember a place, as in a souvenir from Paris.
- Keepsake: a general word for an object kept for sentimental reasons, as in a family keepsake.
Memento and keepsake are close in meaning, and memento is a type of keepsake. Souvenir overlaps with both, but it stresses buying on a trip. Moment is different from all three, because it is about time, not about an object.
Comparison Table
| Word | Correct in English? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Memento | Yes | A keepsake, an object kept to remember. |
| Momento | No, as a keepsake | A misspelling in English; means moment in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. |
| Moment | Yes | A short period of time. |
| Souvenir | Yes | An object bought on a trip to remember a place. |
Plural Form
The plural of memento is mementos, with an s, as in she kept many mementos from her travels. Some style guides also accept mementoes, with es, following the older pattern for words ending in o, but mementos is the common, modern plural, and it is the safer choice. Do not write momentos, with an o, as the plural, because that keeps the misspelling. The plural follows the correct singular, memento, so it starts with mem, not mom.
Examples in Sentences
- She kept the ticket as a memento of her first concert.
- The shell was a memento from our beach holiday.
- He gave her a small memento before leaving.
- They collected mementos from every city they visited.
- This photo is my favourite memento of graduation.
- She treasured the memento for many years.
Common Mistakes
- Wrong: A momento from our trip. Correct: A memento from our trip.
- Wrong: He kept many momentos. Correct: He kept many mementos.
- Wrong: Momento means nothing at all. Correct: Momento means moment in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, but it is not the English word for a keepsake.
- Wrong: A memento of a moment, spelled momento. Correct: A memento of a moment, with memento for the object and moment for the time.
The most common error is writing mom where mem belongs. Remembering memory fixes it.
Tips to Remember
Remember mem, from memory. Memento starts with mem, because it is about memory, not about a moment. A simple memory aid is: mem for memory, mem for memento. If you start writing mom, stop, and change it to mem. Other tricky spellings also become easier when you link the spelling to the meaning, instead of writing what the word sounds like.
Naive or Nieve is another case where a real word from another language is mistaken for an English spelling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Momento or Memento
Memento is correct in English, for a keepsake. Momento is a misspelling in English, when you mean a keepsake.
Yes, in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, momento means moment. It does not mean keepsake in English.
Mementos, with an s, is the common modern plural. Mementoes, with es, is also accepted in some style guides.
Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning remember that you will die. It refers to art or objects that remind people of mortality.
A memento is any object kept to remember. A souvenir is usually bought on a trip to remember a place.
Link it to memory. Memento starts with mem, from memory, not mom, from moment.
Conclusion
Memento is the correct English word for a keepsake, and momento is a misspelling in English, when you mean a keepsake. Momento is a real word in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, meaning moment, but it is not the English keepsake word. Remember mem, from memory, and the spelling will be right every time.
