English speakers often stumble when connecting verbs to their objects because prepositions rarely translate directly. In English, you might say I trust you without any preposition, or I fall in love with you using the word with. In Italian, however, a large group of reflexive verbs (those ending in -si) routinely attach their object using the preposition di.
You simply have to memorize that verbs like innamorarsi (to fall in love) or fidarsi (to trust) need di before the person or thing you are talking about. Learning this pattern early on will make your Italian sound much more natural.
Word list
ricordarsiA1to rememberricordarsi di = to rememberdimenticarsiA2to forgetdimenticarsi di = to forget aboutpreoccuparsiA2to worrypreoccuparsi di = to worry aboutaccorgersiB1to noticeaccorgersi di = to noticeaccorgersiB1to realizeaccorgersi di = to realizeammalarsiB1to get sickammalarsi di = to come down withannoiarsiB1to get boredannoiarsi di = to get bored withassicurarsiB1to make sureassicurarsi di = to make surefidarsiB1to trustfidarsi di = to trustinnamorarsiB1to fall in loveinnamorarsi di = to fall in love withlamentarsiB1to complainlamentarsi di = to complain aboutoccuparsiB1to deal withoccuparsi di = to deal withoccuparsiB1to take care ofoccuparsi di = to look afterprendersi curaB1to deal withprendersi cura di = to take care ofprendersi curaB1to take care ofprendersi cura di = to take care ofrendersi contoB1to realizerendersi conto di = to realizescordarsiB1to forgetscordarsi di = to forgetscusarsiB1to apologizescusarsi di = to apologize forstancarsiB1to get tiredstancarsi di = to get tired ofvergognarsiB1to be ashamedvergognarsi di = to be ashamed ofaccontentarsiB2to settle foraccontentarsi di = to settle forcomporsi diB2to consist ofcomporsi di = to consist ofliberarsi diB2to get rid ofliberarsi di = to get rid ofpentirsiB2to regretpentirsi di = to regretprendersi giocoB2to make fun ofprendersi gioco di = to make fun oframmaricarsiB2to regretrammaricarsi di = to regretsbarazzarsi diB2to get rid ofsbarazzarsi di = to get rid ofvantarsiC1to bragvantarsi di = to brag aboutvendicarsiC1to avengevendicarsi di = to take revenge for
Trust, love, and care
Many common reflexive verbs describing relationships and responsibility require di. While English uses with, for, or nothing at all, Italian is very consistent.
Mi fido di te.
(I trust you.)
Lui si è innamorato di lei.
(He fell in love with her.)
Noi ci occupiamo dei bambini.
(We take care of the children.)
Notice that in the last example, di combines with the definite article i to become dei. You must always combine di with the correct definite article if the noun requires one.
Mind and memory
Another major group involves the mind. Verbs about remembering, forgetting, and realizing all follow this pattern.
Non mi ricordo di quel giorno.
(I do not remember that day.)
Si è accorta dell'errore subito.
(She noticed the mistake immediately.)
Mi rendo conto della difficoltà.
(I realize the difficulty.)
Feelings and actions
You will also use di to introduce the cause of a feeling, like being ashamed or complaining, or the object you are getting rid of.
Mi lamento sempre del rumore.
(I always complain about the noise.)
Si vergogna del suo comportamento.
(He is ashamed of his behavior.)
Voglio liberarmi di questi vecchi vestiti.
(I want to get rid of these old clothes.)
Watch out: verbs as objects
This rule does not just apply to nouns and pronouns. If you want to follow these reflexive verbs with an action, you still use di, and the second verb must be in the infinitive form.
Mi sono dimenticato di chiamare Marco.
(I forgot to call Marco.)
Some verbs, like preoccuparsi (to worry), can also take the preposition per with a slight change in emphasis, but di is the standard building block for connecting these reflexive verbs to their targets.
Summary
When using reflexive verbs (verbs that end in -si in their dictionary form), always check if they take a preposition. A massive number of them, especially those dealing with emotions, memory, and awareness, connect to their object using the preposition di.
Reflexive verbs that take 'di'