Breakdown of Non prendo mica i sonniferi per dormire sodo!
non
not
prendere
to take
dormire
to sleep
per
for / in order to / because of
Questions & Answers about Non prendo mica i sonniferi per dormire sodo!
Why is sodo used here instead of an adverb ending in -mente?
In Italian, certain adjectives can be used as adverbs without changing their form. This means they don't take an -mente suffix and always stay masculine singular. Sodo normally means "hard" or "firm", but in the common phrase dormire sodo, it acts as an invariable adverb meaning "to sleep soundly" or "to sleep heavily".
What is the purpose of mica in this sentence?
Mica is a very common colloquial word used to emphasize a negative statement, usually to contradict an assumption. While non prendo i sonniferi simply means "I don't take sleeping pills", adding mica makes it stronger, like saying "I don't take sleeping pills at all" or "It's not like I take sleeping pills!".
If I wanted to drop the non, how would the placement of mica change?
Why is there an article before sonniferi when English just says "sleeping pills"?
Italian requires a definite article (here, i) when talking about a broad category or referring to something in a general, habitual sense. Because the speaker is talking about the general concept of sleeping pills rather than some specific pills they bought, the definite article is mandatory.