Italian Phrase
Non dimenticare l'ombrello; sta piovendo a dirotto.
Meaning
A friendly warning not to leave the umbrella behind because it is raining extremely hard. The phrase combines a practical reminder with a vivid description of the weather.
When to use
Use this sentence when you see someone heading out while the weather is turning into a downpour, especially in informal or conversational settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nondimenticarel'ombrello;stapiovendoadirotto.
Non (negation)
The adverb 'Non' precedes the verb to make the sentence negative.
dimenticare (infinitive)
Used in the imperative form without a subject; it means 'to forget'.
l'ombrello (elided article)
The definite article 'il' contracts to 'l'' before a vowel.
sta piovendo (present progressive)
The construction 'stare + gerundio' expresses an ongoing action, here 'it is raining'.
a dirotto (idiomatic intensifier)
A colloquial phrase meaning 'very heavily' or 'pouring down'.
🗨In Conversation
Non dimenticare l'ombrello; sta piovendo a dirotto.
Don't forget your umbrella; it's raining heavily.
Grazie, lo prenderò subito!
Thanks, I'll grab it right away!
✕Common Mistakes
Non dimenticare il ombrello; sta piovendo a dirotto.
The article 'il' contracts to 'l'' before a vowel; 'il ombrello' is incorrect.
Non dimenticare l'ombrello; sta piovendo molto.
While correct, it loses the colloquial punch of 'a dirotto'.
Non dimenticarti l'ombrello; sta piovendo a dirotto.
The reflexive form changes the meaning to 'forget yourself' – not appropriate here.
↔Alternatives
Ricordati di prendere l'ombrello, sta piovendo a dirotto.
Remember to take the umbrella, it's pouring.
Porta l'ombrello, fuori piove a dirotto.
Take the umbrella, it's raining cats and dogs.
Non scordare l'ombrello, la pioggia è intensa.
Don't forget the umbrella, the rain is intense.
Cultural Tip
The expression 'a dirotto' is typical of everyday spoken Italian, especially in central regions like Lazio and Tuscany. In formal writing you might replace it with 'molto intensamente' or simply 'piove molto', but in conversation the idiom adds vivid colour and is perfectly natural.