Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| όνειρο | óneiro | /ˈoniro/ | neuter |
| ενύπνιο | enýpnio | neuter |
The term refers to imaginary events seen while sleeping. When you want to express the act of 'dreaming' as in imagining a scenario, it is more common to use the verb φαντάζομαι (to imagine) rather than the verb specifically for sleeping dreams.
Which one should you use?
όνειρο is the common word used for both the experiences occurring during sleep and a person's ambitions. In contrast, ενύπνιο is a more technical term used specifically to describe the physiological phenomenon of dreaming during sleep.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun όνειρο is a neuter noun, and its plural form is όνειρα. The verb for 'to dream', ονειρεύομαι, is reflexive, meaning it is used with reflexive pronouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoniro/ (óneiro)
What mistakes should you avoid?
When you want to say you are 'dreaming' about a possibility or imagining a scenario, avoid using the literal verb for sleeping dreams. Instead, use φαντάζομαι.
Did you know?
- In Ancient Greece, the god Όνειρος personified dreams, and specialized temples called 'asclepieions' were used for 'incubation', where patients slept to receive healing dreams from the gods.
- The English word 'oneiric', meaning relating to dreams, is a direct loanword from the Greek όνειρο.
- The word όνειρο is the root of 'oneiromancy', the ancient practice of predicting the future by interpreting dreams.
Examples in context
- Νόμιζα ότι ήταν ένα κακό όνειρο.I thought it was a bad dream.This sentence is useful for describing a bad dream using όνειρο.Tatoeba #5422810 by Zeus, translation #5275475 by CK
- Ένα ταξίδι στο φεγγάρι δεν είναι πλέον ένα όνειρο.A trip to the Moon is no longer a dream.This sentence shows how όνειρο can refer to an ambition or a goal.Tatoeba #2402793 by mululatv, translation #238839 by sundown
- Έχω ένα όνειρο.I have a dream.This sentence illustrates the common expression of having a dream using όνειρο.Tatoeba #2402774 by mululatv, translation #1630 by al_ex_an_der
- Τα όνειρα μπορούν να αναφέρονται σε διάφορες συμβολικές σημασίες.Dreams can refer to various symbolic meanings.
- Είναι σημαντικό να ακολουθείτε τα μεγάλα όνειρα σας.It's important to pursue your big dreams.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
George and Eleni are having breakfast together.
- Γιώργος GiorgosΕίχα ένα πολύ περίεργο όνειρο χθες.Eícha éna polý períergo óneiro chthes.I had a very strange dream yesterday.
- Ελένη EleniΤι είδες σε αυτό το όνειρο;Ti eídes se aftó to óneiro;直What did you see in this dream?
- Γιώργος GiorgosΌνειρα ολόκληρη τη νύχτα με ταξίδια.Óneira olókliro tinýchta me taxídia.I dreamed of travels all night.
- Ελένη EleniΉταν σίγουρα ένα ωραίο όνειρο.Ítan sígoura éna oraío óneiro.It was surely a nice dream.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dream” translations and entries όνειρο, ενύπνιο, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
