Italian Phrase
Non dimenticare il latte.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Don’t forget the milk.’ It is a friendly reminder, usually spoken to someone who is about to leave the house or go shopping.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to remind a family member, roommate, or friend to bring or buy milk. It works in casual conversation, on a grocery list, or as a quick spoken note.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nondimenticareillatte
Non (negation)
‘Non’ is the standard way to make a verb negative in Italian; it precedes the verb.
Dimenticare (infinitive)
‘Dimenticare’ means ‘to forget’. In imperatives the infinitive is used after ‘non’ to give a negative command.
Il (definite article)
‘Il’ is the masculine singular definite article, required before a singular masculine noun that starts with a consonant.
Latte (noun)
‘Latte’ means ‘milk’. It is a masculine singular noun, so it takes the article ‘il’.
🗨In Conversation
Non dimenticare il latte.
Don’t forget the milk.
Tranquillo, lo prendo al supermercato.
Don’t worry, I’ll pick it up at the supermarket.
✕Common Mistakes
Non dimenticare latte.
The definite article ‘il’ is required before ‘latte’ because it’s a specific item.
Non dimenticarti il latte.
‘Dimenticarti’ is a reflexive form meaning ‘forget yourself’; the correct negative command uses the infinitive after ‘non’.
Non dimenticare del latte.
‘Del’ combines ‘di + il’ and changes the meaning to ‘don’t forget about the milk’, which is less direct than the intended command.
↔Alternatives
Ricordati di comprare il latte.
Remember to buy the milk.
Porta il latte, per favore.
Bring the milk, please.
Non scordare il latte.
Don’t forget the milk.
Cultural Tip
In many Italian households milk is not a daily staple for coffee, but it’s essential for breakfast cereals, desserts, and certain regional dishes. When reminding someone, a warm tone is typical; Italians often add a friendly ‘per favore’ or a smile to keep the request light.