Italian · Everyday Verbs

"to forget" in Italian: dimenticare

dimenticare

Say it: dee-men-tee-KAH-rehverb/di.men.tiˈka.re/

To forget in Italian is dimenticare (dee-men-tee-KAH-reh). Io dimentico, tu dimentichi, lui/lei dimentica. Non dimenticare di… means don't forget to…

Keys at home

Ho dimenticato le chiavi sul tavolo.
I forgot the keys on the table.
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How to pronounce dimenticare

Say it

dee-men-tee-KAH-reh

/di.men.tiˈka.re/

Dimenticare stresses KAH: dee-men-tee-KAH-reh. Dimentico is dee-MEN-tee-koh.

"to forget" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
dimenticareto forget

Things, people, tasks.

dimentico / dimentichi / dimenticaI / you / he-she forget(s)

Present singular.

ho dimenticatoI forgot

Past.

non dimenticare di…don't forget to…

Reminder.

How to use dimenticare in real life

  1. 1Keys at home

    Ho dimenticato le chiavi sul tavolo.

    I forgot the keys on the table.

    Ho dimenticato.

  2. 2Leaving a note

    Non dimenticare di spegnere la luce.

    Don't forget to turn off the light.

    Non dimenticare di…

  3. 3Name blank

    Scusa, dimentico sempre il suo cognome.

    Sorry, I always forget his last name.

    Dimentico conjugation.

Mistakes English speakers make with dimenticare

Incorrect: Io dimenticare il nome.

Correct: Dimentico il nome.

Conjugate: io dimentico.

Incorrect: Ho una dimenticanza delle chiavi.

Correct: Ho dimenticato le chiavi.

Use the verb dimenticare; la dimenticanza does not count here.

Good to know

Italians cushion forgetfulness with scusa, ho dimenticato more than long apologies. Notes on the fridge say non dimenticare di… Friends tease mi hai dimenticato? when you go quiet in the group chat.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Leaving for the airport

  1. ChatPal

    Non dimenticare il passaporto nello zaino.

    Don't forget the passport in the backpack.

  2. You

    Quasi lo dimentico ogni volta!

    I almost forget it every time!

  3. ChatPal

    Controlliamo insieme così non dimentichiamo niente.

    Let's check together so we don't forget anything.

  4. You

    Ok, ho già messo anche i biglietti.

    Ok, I already packed the tickets too.

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"to forget" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to forget" in Italian

How do I say I forgot?

Ho dimenticato…

Don't forget to…?

Non dimenticare di…

I forget?

Dimentico…

Does dimenticanza count?

No—use the verb forms on this page.

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