dammi

Dammi is an Italian phrase that means “give me.” It is formed from the verb dare in the imperative mood with the clitic pronoun mi attached to it. The underlying form is da’ or da, and when the pronoun mi is added, the result is dammi, often with assimilation that produces a geminated m. The phrase is informal and typically used when addressing someone you know well, in everyday speech or casual dialogue.

Usage and examples help illustrate its function. Dammi una mano means “Give me a hand,” while Dammi un attimo means “Give me a moment.” Dammi tutto what you have conveys a strong request. In Italian, the clitic pronouns attach to the verb in affirmative imperatives, as in dammi, dimmi (tell me), fammi (do for me). When additional pronouns are added, they combine to form compounds such as dammelo (give it to me) or dammene (give me some of it). In negative imperatives, the form typically appears as non darmi or non dammi, as in Non darmi fastidio (Don’t bother me).

Grammatical notes: dammi is specifically the informal tu-form imperative with mi as the direct object pronoun “me.” It contrasts with the formal Lei command, which would use a different stem form (for example, dia). The phrase demonstrates how Italian uses clitic pronouns to express person, number, and emphasis within a single verb construct. Dammi remains common in conversation, negotiation, and expressive dialogue, reflecting the language’s fluid pronoun placement and emphasis patterns.