Italian Phrase
Metti la sveglia?
Meaning
A casual way to ask someone if they will set the alarm clock, usually for the next morning. It can also be a reminder to the speaker themselves, as in ‘Don’t forget to set the alarm.’
When to use
Use this phrase in the evening when you’re coordinating a morning schedule with a roommate, partner, or family member, or when you’re reminding yourself before going to bed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mettilasveglia?
Metti (present indicative)
‘Metti’ is the second‑person singular (tu) form of the verb *mettere* (to put, to set) in the present indicative.
la sveglia (definite article + noun)
*La* is the feminine singular definite article; *sveglia* means ‘alarm (clock)’.
Question intonation
In spoken Italian the rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a question; the written question mark is optional in informal notes.
🗨In Conversation
Metti la sveglia per le 7?
Will you set the alarm for 7?
Sì, l’ho già impostata.
Yes, I’ve already set it.
✕Common Mistakes
Metti la sveglia.
Missing the question mark or rising intonation can turn the request into a command.
Metti il sveglia?
‘Sveglia’ is feminine, so the article must be *la*, not *il*.
Metti la sveglia a 7?
When specifying the time you need the preposition *per* or *alle*: *Metti la sveglia per le 7*.
↔Alternatives
Imposta la sveglia?
Set the alarm?
Puoi mettere la sveglia?
Can you set the alarm?
Non dimenticare la sveglia.
Don’t forget the alarm.
Cultural Tip
In Italy people often say *mettere la sveglia* when referring to a mechanical alarm clock, while *impostare la sveglia* is more common for smartphone alarms. The phrase is informal; with strangers or in a formal setting you’d use *Può impostare la sveglia, per favore?*.