Smettila di chiamarmi!
The English phrase "stop calling me!" is expressed in Italian as Smettila di chiamarmi!
Which one should you use?
Smettila di chiamarmi! is an informal command used with friends or people you know. In contrast, Smetta di chiamarmi! is the formal version used with strangers or in professional settings. Another common alternative is Non chiamarmi più!, which focuses on the prohibition of future calls rather than the act of stopping the current behavior.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Smettila di chiamarmi! uses the imperative form of smettere combined with the particle la to create the idiomatic expression smettila di…, which means "stop doing [something]".
Did you know?
- The word chiamare comes from the Latin clamare, meaning 'to shout'. This reveals a history where 'calling' someone was not a phone signal but a loud vocal summons across a distance.
- The particle la in Smettila di… actually refers to a hidden noun like 'the thing' or 'the action', rather than being a direct object pronoun for 'me'.
- While Smettila di chiamarmi! is a direct command, using the word Basta! (Enough!) alone is a much more common and sharper way to tell someone to stop a repetitive behavior.
Examples in context
- Mi spiace, ma non sono interessato. Si prega di smettere di chiamarmi.I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. Please stop calling me.
- Basta! Smettila di chiamarmi! Non sono interessato.Enough! Stop calling me! I'm not interested.
Example conversation
Francesco is annoyed because Giulia keeps calling his phone.
- FrancescoGiulia, smettila di chiamarmi!Giulia, stop calling me!
- GiuliaMa devo dirti una cosa importante!But I have to tell you something important!
- FrancescoPuoi scrivermi un messaggio invece.You can send me a message instead.
- GiuliaVa bene, Francesco, scrivo subito.Alright, Francesco, I'll write now.
