Learn Hardcore Italian: Se hai dimenticato i soldi, figurati: pago io. - If you forgot the money, don’t worry: I’ll pay.

It comes from the reflexive verb figurarsi (“to imagine”). Here, the imperative figurati works as a set phrase meaning “don’t mention it / no problem / it’s nothing,” used to downplay the issue and introduce the offer that follows.

Is "figurati" informal? How do I say it formally or to more than one person?

Yes, figurati is informal (to one person, “tu”). Formal singular is si figuri (to “Lei”), and informal plural is figuratevi (to “voi”). In formal contexts you can also say Non si preoccupi or Ci penso io.

Why is there a colon after "figurati"? Could I use other punctuation?

The colon introduces the explanation or consequence of the interjection: “no problem: I’ll pay.” A comma or a period would also be fine: Figurati, pago io. / Figurati. Pago io. The choice reflects rhythm and emphasis, not grammar.

Why say "pago io" instead of "io pago"? Are both correct?

Both are correct. Pago io is the natural way to emphasize the subject “I” (as in “I’ll pay, not you”). Io pago is grammatical but less idiomatic for volunteering; it often sounds neutral or contrasts with someone else’s action.

Can I say "lo pago io"?

Yes. Lo pago io means “I’ll pay it,” with lo referring to an understood object (typically il conto, “the bill”). Pago io is slightly more general and idiomatic when the context is clear.

Why is it "hai dimenticato" with avere, not "sei dimenticato"?

Because dimenticare is a transitive verb and uses avere to form compound tenses: hai dimenticato. The form with essere appears with the reflexive dimenticarsi: ti sei dimenticato.

What’s the difference between "dimenticare" and "dimenticarsi (di)"?

dimenticare + direct object: Hai dimenticato i soldi. (“You forgot the money.”)
dimenticarsi di + noun/infinitive: Ti sei dimenticato dei soldi / di prendere i soldi.
The reflexive is very common in speech; with it, remember the preposition di.

Should there be a subjunctive after "se"? Why not "se avessi dimenticato"?

For a real, possible condition, Italian uses the indicative: Se hai dimenticato…. Use the imperfect subjunctive for contrary‑to‑fact or less likely conditions: Se avessi dimenticato i soldi, pagherei io. For the past counterfactual: Se avessi dimenticato i soldi, avrei pagato io.

Why use the passato prossimo "hai dimenticato" here?

It signals a completed action relevant to now (“you’ve forgotten [the money], so I’ll pay”). The present dimentichi would be odd, and the imperfect dimenticavi would suggest a habitual past action.

Do we need the article in "i soldi"? Could it be just "soldi" or "dei soldi"?

I soldi fits because it refers to the specific money needed now. Soldi without an article is uncommon here. Dei soldi means “some money” and slightly changes the idea (not all or not specific).

Is "Se ti sei dimenticato i soldi" correct?

In careful Italian, with the reflexive you need di: Se ti sei dimenticato dei soldi / di prendere i soldi. You will hear ti sei dimenticato i soldi in speech, but it’s considered non‑standard.

If a woman is speaking, does "dimenticato" change?

Not in hai dimenticato (with avere)—the participle doesn’t agree. With the reflexive (which takes essere), it does: a woman would say mi sono dimenticata, ti sei dimenticata, etc.

How do you pronounce "figurati"? Where is the stress?

Stress is on the second syllable: fi‑GU‑ra‑ti. The g is hard (as in “go”) because it’s followed by u. Hai has a silent h (like “ai”), and io is two vowels: “EE‑oh.”

Can I put the "se" clause second?

Yes: Figurati: pago io, se hai dimenticato i soldi. This keeps the same meaning; the original order is just more typical for conditions.

Are there other natural ways to make the offer?

Common options:

Non ti preoccupare: pago io.
Offro io. (I’m treating.)
Ci penso io. (I’ll take care of it.)
Prendo io il conto.

Why not use the future "pagherò io"?

Italian often uses the present for immediate offers: Pago io sounds spontaneous and friendly. Pagherò io is possible but can feel more deliberate or formal.

Can "figurati" be sarcastic?

Yes. With the right tone or context, Figurati! can mean “Yeah, right!” or “As if!” (e.g., Figurati se arriva puntuale.) In your sentence, the colon plus the offer clearly uses the reassuring, non‑sarcastic meaning.

Why is there no "tu" in "hai dimenticato"?

Italian normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the person. Tu hai dimenticato is used only for emphasis on “you,” which isn’t needed here.