Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sieste | /sjɛst/ | feminine |
| somme | /sɔm/ | masculine |
| roupillon | /ʁu.pi.jɔ̃/ | masculine |
The word refers to a short period of sleep, especially during the day. It is most common to use the verbal phrase faire la sieste to mean 'to take a nap'.
Which one should you use?
sieste is the standard feminine noun for a nap. somme is a masculine noun, and roupillon is a masculine, colloquial term used for a nap.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
roupillon is a colloquial, informal word. You may also encounter the informal expression une p'tite sieste to refer to a short nap, or the playful and affectionate expression un petit roupillon.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because sieste is a feminine noun, it is preceded by feminine articles such as la or une.
How do you pronounce it?
/sjɛst/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying prendre une sieste. Although this is a literal translation of the English 'take a nap', it is incorrect in French. You should use the phrase faire la sieste instead.
Did you know?
- The Italian word 'salma', meaning 'corpse', shares the same linguistic root as the French word somme for a nap.
- In France, the tradition of the sieste is often viewed as a Mediterranean custom rather than a nationwide habit.
Examples in context
- Je fis une sieste.I took a nap.This sentence shows how to use sieste in the past tense.Tatoeba #839712 by sacredceltic, translation #6330930 by yuiyu
- Tom fait la sieste.Tom is taking a nap.This sentence shows the present continuous use of sieste.Tatoeba #2076000 by Amastan, translation #3232272 by _undertoad
- Il fera une sieste.He'll take an afternoon nap.This sentence shows the future use of sieste.Tatoeba #2076070 by Amastan, translation #2842435 by mervert1
- Je vais faire une p'tite siesteI'm going to take a short nap
- Faisons un petit roupillonLet's have a little nap
- Je vais faire une p'tite sieste , ça me fera du bien.I'm going to take a short nap, it will do me good.
- 74 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are relaxing at home on a Sunday afternoon.
- GabrielTu veux faire une sieste ?Do you want to take a nap?
- EmmaOui, j'ai besoin d'une petite sieste.Yes, I need a little nap.
- GabrielD'accord, je vais me reposer aussi.Okay, I am going to rest too.
- EmmaBonne sieste, Gabriel !Have a good nap, Gabriel!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nap” translations and entries sieste, somme, roupillon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries roupillon, sieste, somme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
