Italian Phrase
Sì, non metto la sveglia.
Meaning
The speaker is confirming a previous statement and says that they do not set the alarm. It can be understood as “Yes, I don’t set the alarm.” The "sì" confirms the negative fact rather than contradicting it.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks you whether you set an alarm, or when you want to confirm that you deliberately leave the alarm off – for example, when you plan to sleep in or when you rely on natural light.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sìnonmettolasveglia
Sì (affirmation)
Used to confirm or agree with a statement, even when the statement itself is negative.
non (negation)
Placed before the verb to negate it; it negates the action expressed by the verb.
metto (present indicative of "mettere")
First‑person singular of "mettere" meaning “to put/set”. In the context of clocks it means “to set the alarm”.
la sveglia (noun phrase)
Literally “the alarm clock”; the article "la" is required before "sveglia".
🗨In Conversation
Non metti la sveglia per domani?
Aren’t you setting the alarm for tomorrow?
Sì, non metto la sveglia.
Yes, I’m not setting the alarm.
✕Common Mistakes
Sì, non metto sveglia.
The noun needs the definite article "la" before it.
No, non metto la sveglia.
Learners sometimes think "sì" contradicts a negative; in this context it confirms the negative statement.
Sì, non imposto la sveglia.
"Mettere" is correct, but many learners use "imposto" incorrectly with "sveglia"; both are acceptable, yet "mettere" is more idiomatic.
↔Alternatives
No, non la metto.
No, I don’t set it.
Sì, non la imposto.
Yes, I don’t set it.
Non metto la sveglia.
I don’t set the alarm.
Cultural Tip
In Italy people usually say "mettere la sveglia" (to put the alarm) rather than "impostare la sveglia," although both are understood. The word "sveglia" can also refer to the alarm sound itself. When confirming a negative statement, Italians often use "sì" to mean “that’s right, I’m indeed not doing it,” which can feel counter‑intuitive to English speakers.