• Listen

  What it means

  Literally “for memory,” this expression is used when giving or keeping something as a memento or souvenir. It expresses the purpose behind an object—to ensure that a person or event is not forgotten. You will often see this phrase written as a dedication on the back of a photograph or inside a book given as a gift.

  Vocabulary

  • pamiątka — souvenir / memento / keepsake
  • pamiętać — to remember
  • prezent — gift / present

  Grammar note

  In this context, the preposition 'na' triggers the accusative case ('pamiątkę') to indicate purpose or intention. Note that while 'pamiątka' is a souvenir, 'pamięć' is the faculty of memory itself.

  Cultural context

  Poles place a high value on sentimental keepsakes; giving a small gift 'na pamiątkę' is a very common social gesture when saying goodbye for a long time.

  Beginner

Noticed a typo, a wrong translation, or anything that doesn't look right? We'd love to fix it — just let us know via the contact page. Thank you!