I forgot the shopping list.
o di-men-ti-KA-to la LI-sta del-la SPE-za
Telling someone (e.g. a family member by phone) that you forgot the shopping list.
The lista della spesa is taken very seriously in Italian households. Italians who cook seriously plan meals and shop with precision. Forgetting the list is a minor domestic crisis. This phrase often triggers an on-the-spot phone call for a recitation of the items needed.
Cosa devo comprare?
What do I need to buy?
Asking for the list to be repeated
Faccio la lista sul telefono.
I'll make the list on my phone.
Modern solution to the forgotten list
Dimmi cosa ti serve.
Tell me what you need.
Asking a family member to dictate the list
Italian meal planning is traditionally centred on the main meal (pranzo, lunch). A housewife or cook in Italy typically plans the week's meals in advance and shops accordingly, with the lista della spesa as a cornerstone of domestic organisation.