Memento or Momento: Which Spelling Is Correct?

If you are unsure whether to write memento or momento, you are not alone. The two spellings look almost identical, and momento feels natural because it resembles the English word moment.

However, when you mean a keepsake or something that reminds you of a person, place, or event, memento is the standard spelling in English.

Major dictionaries define memento as an object kept as a reminder, such as a photograph, ticket, gift, or souvenir.

The confusion becomes even easier to understand because momento does appear in dictionaries as a variant spelling, while it is also a genuine word meaning “moment” in languages such as Spanish and Italian.

Quick Answer

Memento is the standard English spelling when you mean a keepsake, souvenir, or reminder of something.

Momento is commonly used as a spelling variant of memento, but many usage guides still treat it as an error in standard English.

Merriam-Webster lists momento as a variant, while its usage guidance notes that most usage experts consider it an error.

Spelling	Standard English?	Meaning
memento	Yes	A keepsake or reminder
momento	Usually avoided in formal English	Variant spelling of memento; also means “moment” in some languages

Best choice: Use memento in essays, emails, business writing, academic work, and other formal English.

Simple Example

Correct: She kept the photograph as a memento of her childhood.

Usually avoided: She kept the photograph as a momento of her childhood.

What Does Memento Mean?

A memento is an object that helps you remember a person, place, event, or special experience. It is similar in meaning to keepsake, souvenir, reminder, token, or sometimes memorial.

A memento does not have to be expensive or valuable. Its importance comes from the memory connected to it.

For example, a concert ticket may become a memento because it reminds someone of their first live show. A seashell from a family vacation can also be a memento.

Examples of Mementos

Common mementos include:

A photograph from a wedding
A ticket from a concert
A postcard from a trip
A letter from a loved one
A graduation medal
A family heirloom
A souvenir from another country
A gift marking an important achievement

Example:

He kept his grandfather’s watch as a memento of their time together.

Oxford defines memento as something kept or given to remind someone of a person or place, while Cambridge similarly describes it as an object kept to remember a person, place, or event.

What Does Momento Mean?

This is where the answer gets slightly more interesting.

In standard English, momento is generally not the preferred spelling when you mean a keepsake. However, it is not simply a word that never appears anywhere.

Merriam-Webster lists momento as a variant spelling of memento. Dictionary.com also recognizes it as an alternate spelling and notes that it is sometimes considered a misspelling.

There is another reason you may see momento: it is a real word in other languages. In Spanish and Italian, momento means moment. That foreign-language use is different from the English noun memento.

So, if you are writing ordinary English and want to describe a souvenir or keepsake, memento is the safest choice.

Memento vs. Momento: What’s the Difference?

The main difference is standard English usage and origin.

Memento is an English noun meaning something that reminds you of a person, place, event, or experience. Its history goes back to Latin mementō, meaning “remember.”

Momento, when used in English for a keepsake, is a variant spelling that many writers still avoid. In Spanish and Italian, however, momento has its own meaning: “moment.”

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Memento	Momento
Standard English spelling	Yes	Generally no
Means a keepsake	Yes	Sometimes used as a variant
Means a reminder	Yes	Used this way as a variant
Latin origin	Yes	Not the standard English form
Spanish meaning	—	Moment
Italian meaning	—	Moment
Best choice in formal English	Yes	Usually avoid

The safest rule is simple: If you mean a keepsake, choose memento.

Why Do People Spell Memento as Momento?

The spelling error is easy to make because memento sounds similar to moment. The missing e can also be hard to notice when the word is spoken.

There is a logical association behind the mistake. A memento often reminds you of a particular moment in your life, so it is natural for writers to connect the two words.

However, the spelling comes from a different history. Memento comes from Latin and is related to meminisse, meaning “to remember.”

A Simple Memory Trick

Think:

Memento → Memory

Both begin with mem.

A memento helps you remember a meaningful person, place, or event.

This makes it easier to avoid writing momento when you mean a keepsake.

How to Use Memento in a Sentence

Memento is a countable noun, so you can use a memento, the memento, or several mementos.

Here are natural examples:

She kept the necklace as a memento of her mother.
We bought a small memento from our trip to Rome.
The photograph became a treasured memento of their wedding.
Each guest received a small memento after the ceremony.
He saved the old ticket as a memento of his first concert.
The medal is a proud memento of her achievement.

The common patterns include memento of, memento from, and as a memento. Oxford specifically lists these constructions among common usage patterns.

Memento Plural: Mementos or Mementoes?

The plural of memento can be written in two accepted ways:

mementos
mementoes

Both forms are recognized by major dictionaries.

For example:

The museum displayed several personal mementos from the artist’s life.

Mementos is a simple and common choice, especially in American English.

Memento vs. Moment: Don’t Confuse Them

Another common mistake is confusing memento with moment.

A moment is a short period of time.

A memento is an object that helps you remember something.

Compare These Examples

We enjoyed a quiet moment together.

Here, moment refers to a short period of time.

She kept the bracelet as a memento of that day.

Here, memento refers to an object connected to a memory.

The words are related in everyday association, but they do not have the same meaning.

Memento and Memento Mori

You may also recognize memento from the Latin phrase memento mori.

Memento mori is traditionally understood as a reminder of human mortality—roughly, “remember that you must die.” The word memento itself comes from the Latin imperative meaning “remember.”

This is another useful clue for remembering the spelling: memento is connected to remembering, not simply to the English word moment.

Memento in Everyday Life

A memento can be almost anything if it carries a meaningful memory.

Imagine someone returning from a family vacation with a small shell. The shell has little financial value, but years later it may remind that person of the trip, the people who were there, and the experience they shared.

That shell is a memento.

Likewise, a graduation cap, handwritten note, old photograph, concert ticket, trophy, or family gift can become a memento.

This is why memento is often associated with words such as:

keepsake, souvenir, reminder, memory, token, remembrance, memorabilia, memorial, gift, photograph, heirloom, and tribute.

The exact choice depends on the object and the context.

Is Momento Ever Acceptable?

There is an important nuance here.

If you are writing standard English, especially for school, work, publishing, or professional communication, memento is the better choice.

That does not mean momento never appears in edited English. Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com both acknowledge its use as a variant, although traditional usage guidance often recommends memento instead.

You may also encounter momento in foreign-language contexts, names, product names, or other proper names. In those cases, changing the spelling may change the intended name.

Therefore, the practical rule is:

Writing in English about a keepsake? Use memento.

Common Mistakes With Memento

Writing “momento” because of “moment”

Incorrect:

I bought a momento from the museum.

Better:

I bought a memento from the museum.

Using “moment” when you mean an object

Incorrect:

The old photograph was a beautiful moment of her childhood.

Better:

The old photograph was a beautiful memento of her childhood.

Forgetting the plural form

Correct:

She kept several mementos from her travels.

You can also use mementoes.

Assuming British and American English use different spellings

The standard spelling is memento in both British and American English. Oxford and Cambridge both list memento as the English form.

Memento or Momento: Which One Should You Use?

For almost all standard English writing, choose memento.

Use it when you mean:

A keepsake
A souvenir
A reminder of a person
An object connected to a special event
Something preserved because of a memory
A token of remembrance

While momento has a documented history as a variant spelling, it can still look like a spelling mistake to many readers.

If clarity and correctness matter, memento is the stronger choice. Merriam-Webster notes that most usage experts consider momento an error, even though dictionaries have recorded it as a variant.

Final Answer

Memento is the standard spelling in English when you mean a keepsake, souvenir, or object that reminds you of someone or something.

Momento is commonly seen as a variant spelling, but it is usually better to avoid it in formal English.

It can also be a genuine foreign-language word meaning “moment,” especially in Spanish and Italian.

So, when in doubt, remember:

Memento = memory

Correct: She kept the necklace as a memento of her grandmother.

Usually avoid: She kept the necklace as a momento of her grandmother.

FAQs

Is memento or momento correct?

Memento is the standard English spelling for a keepsake or reminder.

Is momento a real word?

Yes. Dictionaries record momento as a variant of memento, and it is also a genuine word meaning “moment” in languages such as Spanish and Italian.