Italian Phrase
Metti acqua e cibo non deperibile.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to place or store water and food that does not spoil quickly. It is often heard in contexts of emergency preparedness, camping, or when organizing a pantry.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give a clear, informal instruction to a friend, family member, or colleague to set aside water and non‑perishable food items, especially before a trip, a natural disaster, or a power outage.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mettiacquaecibonondeperibile
Metti (imperativo)
‘Metti’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb *mettere* (to put, to place). It is used for direct commands to ‘you’ (informal).
acqua (sostantivo)
A feminine noun meaning ‘water’. In the imperative construction it stays in its base form.
e (congiunzione)
The coordinating conjunction ‘e’ means ‘and’, linking two objects of the verb.
cibo (sostantivo)
A masculine noun meaning ‘food’. It follows the conjunction and shares the same verb.
non (negazione)
The adverb ‘non’ negates the adjective that follows, turning ‘deperibile’ (perishable) into ‘non deperibile’ (non‑perishable).
deperibile (aggettivo)
An adjective meaning ‘perishable’. When preceded by ‘non’, it describes items that do not spoil quickly, such as canned goods or dried pasta.
🗨In Conversation
Metti acqua e cibo non deperibile.
Put water and non‑perishable food.
Certo, lo faccio subito.
Sure, I’ll do it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Metti acqua e cibo non deperibili.
‘Deperibili’ is the plural form; the adjective must agree with the singular noun *cibo*.
Metta acqua e cibo non deperibile.
‘Metta’ is the formal (Lei) or third‑person singular form; the informal command uses ‘Metti’.
Metti acque e cibo non deperibile.
‘Acque’ is the plural of *acqua*; the sentence refers to a single supply of water, so keep it singular.
↔Alternatives
Prepara acqua e cibo non deperibile.
Prepare water and non‑perishable food.
Metti da parte acqua e cibo non deperibile.
Set aside water and non‑perishable food.
Fai scorta di acqua e cibo non deperibile.
Stock up on water and non‑perishable food.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, emergency kits (known as *kit di emergenza*) traditionally include bottled water and *cibo non deperibile* such as pasta, canned tomatoes, beans, and dried legumes. The phrase is common in family conversations when preparing for floods, earthquakes, or even a weekend camping trip.