dammi
informal
The Italian phrase for 'give me' is dammi. Wiktionary also lists mi dia.
Meaning: expression of preference (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| dammi | informal |
| mi dia | formal |
In Italian, you use these phrases to express a preference. For a polite request, you might also use Vorrei, which means 'I would like'.
Which one should you use?
Use dammi when speaking to friends, family or children. Use mi dia when speaking to strangers, elders or in professional settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dammi is an informal way to say 'give me'. mi dia is the formal version.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the informal form dammi, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb. In the formal form mi dia, the pronoun mi moves to the front of the verb.
Did you know?
- The word dare used in dammi is also used in the idiom dare i numeri, which means to talk nonsense or go crazy.
- The verb dare is part of a unique Italian expression dare del tu, which refers to the act of switching from formal to informal address.
- The pronoun mi in these phrases traces its roots back to the Latin mē, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'me'.
Examples in context
- Mi dia i file.Give me the files.This sentence shows how to use mi dia to request files.Tatoeba #3981694 by Guybrush88, translation #3151477 by CK
- Mi dia la mano.Give me your hand.This sentence shows how to use mi dia to ask for someone's hand.Tatoeba #3260740 by Guybrush88, translation #3151444 by CK
- Mi dia la pala.Give me the shovel.This sentence shows how to use mi dia to request a shovel.Tatoeba #4043133 by Guybrush88, translation #3151466 by CK
- Dammi il menù, per favoreGive me the menu, please
- Posso avere il conto, per piacere?Can I have the bill, please?
- Dammi una penna, per favoreGive me a pen, please
- 827 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- LorenzoCosa vuoi mangiare stasera, Martina?What do you want to eat tonight, Martina?
- MartinaDammi una pizza margherita, per favore.Give me a margherita pizza, please.
- LorenzoOttima scelta, la ordino subito.Great choice, I'll order it right away.
- MartinaGrazie, Lorenzo!Thanks, Lorenzo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “give me” translations and entries dammi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dia, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
