Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sonnellino | /son.nelˈli.no/ | masculine |
| pisolino | /pi.zoˈli.no/ | masculine |
| pennichella | /pen.niˈkɛl.la/ | feminine |
The nouns sonnellino, pisolino and pennichella all refer to a short period of sleep, especially during the day. To express the action of taking a nap, you typically use the verb fare (to do/make) with these nouns, such as fare un sonnellino or fare un pisolino. Other ways to describe related actions include dormicchiare, which means to snooze or have a light sleep and the phrase chiudere gli occhi, which literally means 'to close the eyes' but can imply taking a nap or resting. If you want to describe the act of falling into a nap, you can use the verb appisolarsi.
Which one should you use?
While all three words refer to a nap, sonnellino refers to a brief and easy nap that lasts only a short while. Pisolino is slightly more informal and often implies a very brief, light sleep. Pennichella is also an informal and widely used way to describe a nap.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb appisolarsi is reflexive, which means it is used to express the act of 'falling into a nap' or 'dozing off'.
How do you pronounce it?
Sonnellino is pronounced /son.nelˈli.no/ and has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- The word pennichella comes from the Latin word pendere, which means 'to hang'. It originally described the state of one's head hanging down while dozing.
- The term pennichella is considered a more regional or central Italian term, whereas sonnellino is more universal across the country.
- The word pisolino is a diminutive, meaning it is effectively a 'tiny' sleep, even though it is used for any short nap.
Examples in context
- Io farò un pisolino.I'm going to take a nap.This sentence shows how to use pisolino to say you are going to take a nap.Tatoeba #4236350 by Guybrush88, translation #1890992 by CK
- Non feci un pisolino.I didn't take a nap.This sentence uses pisolino in the negative to say you did not take a nap.Tatoeba #9024464 by Guybrush88, translation #6274082 by CK
- Un pisolino farebbe bene.A nap would be good.This sentence uses pisolino to suggest that a nap would be beneficial.Tatoeba #2458978 by Guybrush88, translation #2027750 by halfb1t
- Dopo pranzo, mi concedo un'ora per riposarmi.After lunch, I allow myself an hour to rest.
- Ho mangiato troppo, credo farò un pisolino per digerire meglio.I ate too much, I think I'll take a nap to digest better.
- Ieri sera ho festeggiato fino a tardi, quindi ho bisogno di fare un pisolino per recuperare energie.I partied late last night, so I need to take a nap to regain energy.
- Dopo pranzo, mi piace fare una piccola pennichella per rigenerarmi.After lunch, I enjoy taking a little nap to recharge.
- Mia nonna fa sempre una pennichella nel primo pomeriggio.My grandmother always takes a nap in the early afternoon.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A quiet afternoon at home.
- AlessandroGiulia, sei molto stanca oggi?Giulia, are you very tired today?
- GiuliaSì, vorrei fare un sonnellino.Yes, I would like to take a nap.
- AlessandroVuoi che ti prepari un caffè prima?Do you want me to make you a coffee first?
- GiuliaNo grazie, preferisco dormire un po'.No thanks, I prefer to sleep a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nap” translations and entries sonnellino, pisolino, pennichella, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pennichella, pisolino, sonnellino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
