Vergeet je pincode niet.

Don't forget your PIN code.

Breakdown of Vergeet je pincode niet.

• niet: not
• vergeten: to forget
• je: your
• de pincode: the PIN code

Questions & Answers about Vergeet je pincode niet.

Why is je used here instead of jouw, jij, or jou?

In this sentence je is the unstressed possessive pronoun meaning your.

• jouw is the stressed possessive form (e.g. jouw pincode, if you really want to emphasize “your PIN code”).
• jij is the subject pronoun you (nominative).
• jou is the stressed object pronoun you (accusative/dative).
  Since we simply need “your PIN code” without emphasis, we use the unstressed je.

Why isn’t there a subject like jij in the sentence?

Dutch imperatives drop the subject pronoun entirely. The listener is understood to be you, so the verb starts the sentence:
Vergeet je pincode niet.
(No jij needed.)

Why is niet placed at the end rather than before pincode or the verb?

In Dutch the negative particle niet usually follows the direct object or verb phrase it negates. Here it negates the whole command vergeet je pincode, so it comes at the end:
Vergeet je pincode niet.

Could you also say Vergeet niet je pincode? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, Vergeet niet je pincode is also correct and has the same meaning. Placing niet at the end (Vergeet je pincode niet) is more typical in spoken Dutch and sounds a bit more natural, but both orders are understood.

Why isn’t there an article before pincode (like de or een)?

Because the possessive pronoun je replaces the need for an article. You say je pincode, not de je pincode or een je pincode.

What gender is pincode, and how would you use an article outside of this sentence?

Pincode is a common-gender noun, so it takes de. For example:

• De pincode is vier cijfers.
• Ik ben mijn pincode vergeten.

How do you form the imperative in Dutch?

1. Start with the infinitive: vergeten
2. Remove -en to get the stem: vergeet
3. No subject pronoun is used; just use the verb: Vergeet!
   Then add objects or negations as needed.

How would I make this sentence more formal?

Swap the informal je for the formal uw:
Vergeet uw pincode niet.
Optionally add alstublieft for extra politeness:
Vergeet uw pincode niet, alstublieft.

What is the origin of the word pincode in Dutch?

It’s a compound of the English acronym PIN (Personal Identification Number) and code. Dutch adopted it as one word, pincode, and treats it like any other Dutch noun.