souvenir hunting

Meaning

'Souvenir hunting' refers to the activity of searching for and buying mementos, gifts, or local crafts to bring back home from a trip. The use of 'hunting' implies a playful, active search for the perfect or most unique items, rather than just standard shopping. It is a casual expression often used when planning holiday itineraries or describing a day out at local markets.

Examples

• I'm going souvenir hunting at the local market this afternoon to find something for my mom.

  I'm going souvenir hunting at the local market this afternoon to find something for my mom.

• We spent our last day in Tokyo doing some serious souvenir hunting.

  We spent our last day in Tokyo doing some serious souvenir hunting.

• If you're going souvenir hunting, avoid the shops right next to the main landmarks.

  If you're going souvenir hunting, avoid the shops right next to the main landmarks.

• My favorite part of the trip was souvenir hunting in the tiny artisan shops.

  My favorite part of the trip was souvenir hunting in the tiny artisan shops.

• I did some souvenir hunting but only ended up buying a few local postcards.

  I did some souvenir hunting but only ended up buying a few local postcards.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I went to buy some memories for my friends.

  ✓ I went souvenir hunting for my friends.

  Non-native speakers often translate the word for 'souvenirs' literally as 'memories'. In English, souvenirs are physical objects, and the activity of shopping for them is 'souvenir hunting'.

• ✗ We did some souvenirs hunting in the market.

  ✓ We did some souvenir hunting in the market.

  The noun 'souvenir' acts as a modifier here, so it must remain singular ('souvenir hunting', not 'souvenirs hunting').

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before we head to the airport, I need to do some ___ for my family.

  💡 Searching for gifts to bring back from a trip.

  Show answer

  souvenir hunting

• The local flea market is the perfect place to go ___.

  💡 Looking for unique travel mementos.

  Show answer

  souvenir hunting