Scordare vs dimenticare (to forget)

By Sigrid Lee

You asked, we'll try to answer! Are there differences between scordare and dimenticare, both of which mean "to forget?" If so, what's the difference? That is the question we'll set out to answer in this lesson. Yabla videos should provide us with plenty of examples to see and hear.

There is a long article (in Italian) on the website of L'Accademia della Crusca, but the upshot is: La scelta dell’uno o dell’altro è dovuta a ragioni e abitudini linguistiche personali, di contesto o di gusto, in parte legate alla regione di provenienza (the choice of one or the other is due to personal linguistic reasons and habits, context, and taste, partly tied to the region one is from).

So, in a way, we could say, "We're done here." But let's explore a bit further.

In our previous lesson about the song Quando sarai piccola, we discussed the etymology of the two verbs in question. Even though etymology does not define the current use of a word, it can be meaningful and help remember the verbs themselves. Knowing that dimenticare comes from mente (mind) and scordare comes from cuore (heart) is an enrichment for those who care.

Philosopher and historian Benedetto Croce felt this difference: Croce scriveva in Conversazioni critiche (1950-1951, p. 69):

L’italiano rammentare (e dimenticare) si riferiscono piuttosto alla mente, e il ricordare (e scordare), si riferiscono piuttosto al cuore".

The Italian rammentare (and dimenticare) refer rather to the mind, and ricordare (and scordare), refer rather, to the heart.

Some Italians do feel there's a difference, as you can see in this forum discussion. It may be felt in certain regions or in certain (older) generations. In our previous lesson, we did mention that dimenticare was more neutral and scordare more personal. That is the opinion expressed in various sources, but certainly, L'Accademia della Crusca says it best. They both work just fine.

Now that we have no particular concerns about meaning, we can move on to using the verbs.

Dimenticare

In this first example, the infinitive form of the verb is used as a sort of imperative.

Non dimenticare di prendere lo scontrino dopo aver pagato.

Don't forget to take the receipt after having paid.

Caption 52, Vocaboliamo Supermercato - Part 6
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When we want to use the verb as a plain, transitive verb, dimenticare is a solid choice, and the easiest.

Alle volte dimentico che sei un uomo, con dei bei baffi.

Sometimes I forget you're a man, with a nice moustache.

Captions 50-51, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 4
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Even in compound tenses, where we have the participle, we use the auxiliary avere (to have). In the following example, the important element is la luce (the light).

Eh, hai dimenticato la luce in bagno.

Hey, you forgot the light in the bathroom.

Caption 71, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 17
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There are also more complicated ways to use dimenticare (and scordare) in compound tenses with and without pronouns, but we'll look at them in a future lesson. See this lesson about remembering and forgetting in Italian.

Scordare

E non lo scorderò mai.

And I'll never forget it.

Caption 18, Acqua in bocca La pizza Margherita - Ep 7

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Scordare takes the auxiliary avere when used in a straightforward construction as below.

Ho scordato gli agrumi.

I forgot the citrus fruit.

Caption 11, La Ladra EP. 11 - Un esame importante - Part 1
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But it is very common to hear scordare (or scordarsi) in a compound tense in its reflexive or pronominal form.

Non mi dire che ti sei scordato la banconota da cinquecento.

Don't tell me that you forgot the five-hundred banknote.

Caption 50, La Ladra EP. 11 - Un esame importante - Part 6
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And there is a great expression using this verb. It's the equivalent of "Forget about it." "You wish!" "No way!"

Se stai cercando di farmi cambiare idea sul fatto che ti voglio sposare, scordatelo. Chiaro?

If you're trying to make me change my mind about wanting to marry you, forget about it. Clear?

Caption 29, Il Commissario Manara S2EP1 - Matrimonio con delitto - Part 15
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Note: In scordatelo, the stress is on the first syllable.

🎻 Keep in mind that in music, scordare also means to be or to go out of tune.

La corda di mi del mio violino si è scordata, la devo riaccordare prima di cominciare a suonare (the e string on my violin is out of tune, I have to tune it again before starting to play).

Here we have the verb accordare (to tune) from the noun la corda (the string). But when someone is singing out of tune, or when referring to poor intonazione (intonation), the verb is stonare with stonato being the adjective.

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