قَيْلولة
qaylūlafeminine
The English word 'nap' can be translated into Arabic as قَيْلولة (qaylūla). Wiktionary also lists سِنَة (sina).
Meaning: a short period of sleep, especially during the day (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| قَيْلولة | qaylūla | feminine |
| سِنَة | sina | feminine |
In Arabic, you can express the concept of a nap using the noun قَيْلولة or the verb-noun construction أَخَذَ قَيْلُولَة, which literally means 'to take a nap'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word قَيْلولة is derived from a root related to 'qayl', which refers to the midday heat or the time of noon.
Which one should you use?
While قَيْلولة specifically refers to a midday nap, the word سِنَة refers more generally to a light sleep or a momentary drowse.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both قَيْلولة and سِنَة are feminine nouns. To express the action of napping, you can use the verb تَقَيَّلَ or the phrase أَخَذَ قَيْلُولَة.
How do you pronounce it?
qaylūla
Did you know?
- The concept of قَيْلولة is deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition of the 'Sunnah', where a short midday nap is seen as a healthy habit to prepare for evening prayers.
- Arabic has a distinct verb تَقَيَّلَ specifically for the act of napping at midday, whereas English relies on the general verb 'sleep' or the phrase 'take a nap'.
- In some traditional Arabic poetry, a brief sleep like سِنَة can be a metaphor for a state of unawareness or a momentary loss of vigilance.
Examples in context
- أحتاج إلى قَيْلولة قصيرة الآن.aḥtāju ilā qaylūlatin qaṣīratin al-ān.I need a short nap now.
- هل أخذتَ قَيْلولة بعد الغداء؟hal akhadta qaylūlatan ba'da al-ghadā'?Did you take a nap after lunch?
Example conversation
Layla and Omar are talking at home in the afternoon.
- ليلى Laylaتبدو متعباً يا عمر، هل أخذتَ قَيْلولة؟tabdū mut'aban yā 'Umar, hal akhadta qaylūla?You look tired, Omar, did you take a nap?
- عمر Omarلا، لم أستطع النوم اليوم.lā, lam astaṭi' al-nawm al-yawm.No, I couldn't sleep today.
- ليلى Laylaربما تحتاج إلى قَيْلولة سريعة.rubbamā taḥtāju ilā qaylūla sarī'a.Maybe you need a quick nap.
- عمر Omarهذه فكرة جيدة، شكراً لكِ.hādhihi fikra jayyida, shukran laki.That is a good idea, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nap” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
