Signification
Asking for honesty.
Contexte culturel
Italians often use 'Dimmi la verità' as a way to build 'sintonia' (harmony) in a relationship. It's not just about the facts, but about showing you trust the other person enough to hear the truth. In some southern regions, asking for the truth can be a very serious matter, touching on codes of honor and family loyalty. Younger Italians might use 'Sii onesto' or 'Sii serio' as alternatives to 'Dimmi la verità' when texting. In business, 'Dirsi le cose in faccia' (telling things to each other's faces) is valued, and 'Dimmi la verità' can be used to cut through corporate jargon.
The Double M
Always remember to linger on the 'm' sound in 'Dimmi'. It's what makes it sound authentic!
Watch the Formality
Don't use this with your Italian professor unless you want to sound like a bratty teenager.
Signification
Asking for honesty.
The Double M
Always remember to linger on the 'm' sound in 'Dimmi'. It's what makes it sound authentic!
Watch the Formality
Don't use this with your Italian professor unless you want to sound like a bratty teenager.
The Softener
Add 'Dai' (Come on) at the beginning to make it sound more like a friendly plea: 'Dai, dimmi la verità!'
Eye Contact
When saying this, maintain steady eye contact. It reinforces the request for honesty.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'tell me'.
____ la verità: ti piace il mio nuovo taglio di capelli?
The correct informal singular form is 'Dimmi' with two 'm's.
Which of these is the correct formal version of the phrase?
If you are talking to your boss, you should say:
'Mi dica' is the formal imperative for 'Lei'.
Choose the best response to complete the dialogue.
A: Ho cucinato io questa torta. Com'è? B: È... interessante. A: Dai, ________!
The speaker wants an honest opinion after a vague response.
Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
This tests your knowledge of different imperative forms.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal
Banque d exercices
4 exercices____ la verità: ti piace il mio nuovo taglio di capelli?
The correct informal singular form is 'Dimmi' with two 'm's.
If you are talking to your boss, you should say:
'Mi dica' is the formal imperative for 'Lei'.
A: Ho cucinato io questa torta. Com'è? B: È... interessante. A: Dai, ________!
The speaker wants an honest opinion after a vague response.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
This tests your knowledge of different imperative forms.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt depends on the context. With friends, it's perfectly fine. With strangers, it's too direct and informal.
It's grammatically possible but sounds very poetic or old-fashioned. Stick to 'la verità'.
If you are talking to more than one person, say 'Ditemi la verità'.
Use the formal version: 'Mi dica la verità'.
It's a rule in Italian where pronouns attached to short verbs double their consonant.
Yes, it is always 'la verità'.
Yes, it's very common in texting between friends.
No, it stays 'verità' even if you are talking about multiple truths.
'Verità' is about the facts; 'sincerità' is about the person's honesty.
No, it sounds incomplete. You need the 'la'.
Yes, 'Sputa il rospo' (Spit out the toad) is a popular slang equivalent.
It's a sharp, stressed 'ah' sound, like in 'father'.
Expressions liées
A dire il vero
similarTo tell the truth / Actually
Sii sincero
synonymBe sincere
Parla chiaro
similarSpeak clearly / Be direct
Vuota il sacco
specialized formSpill the beans
Dire le bugie
contrastTo tell lies
