dimenticare
/di.men.ti.ˈka.re/
Definition
To forget something or someone; to fail to remember.
Example
Ho dimenticato le chiavi dentro casa.
Show translation
I forgot the keys inside the house.
Etymology
From Latin *dementare* ("to drive out of one's mind"), influenced by *mens/mentis* ("mind"). The prefix *de-* adds a sense of removal or loss, giving the core meaning of "losing something from the mind."
Cultural note
Italians often use the reflexive form *dimenticarsi* (e.g., *mi sono dimenticato*) interchangeably with the non-reflexive *dimenticare* — both are perfectly natural in everyday speech. The reflexive form tends to feel slightly more personal or emphatic.